March 7, 2010, Dubai, UAE: The organisers of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature have promised visitors a ‘broader, richer and more interactive’ experience at this year’s event. New features include a musical strand featuring several of the Festival authors, a live cookery demonstration with celebrity chef Anjum Anand as well as workshops for both children and adults in creative writing, drama and illustration including an expanded Education Day with leading authors visiting various branches of the Dubai Public Libraries on March 11. All eight branches of the Dubai Public Libraries have been transferred and are now managed by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

Lucky visitors to the Festival will also have the opportunity to pick up Yann Martel’s new novel ‘Beatrice and Virgil’ one month before it goes on general release. The Festival is held under the patronage of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicated authority for culture, the arts and heritage.

"There’s going to be a real festival ‘buzz’ throughout the four days of the event," said Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director.

"A typical day for a visitor could involve a discussion with a world famous author, attendance at a creative writing or translation workshop finishing up with a concert or an impromptu storytelling session.

"Meanwhile your children could sing along with an author, design a puppet and learn the secrets of illustration from a top international children’s book illustrator. We will also have the first performance of our specially commissioned festival ‘anthem’ which, I’m sure, will be a highlight for many."
With more than 100 authors signed up for this year’s Festival and over 80 sessions in the main author programme there will be many highlights. There will be several works unveiled throughout the four-day event, including ‘Looking Back with Love’, an anthology of 19th century poetry compiled by UAE-based author Khalid al-Budoor. Acclaimed Iraqi poet Fadhil al Azzawi has translated the poems into English. Both Khalid and Fadhil will read from the collection accompanied by specially commissioned harp music composed by Dubai-based musician Joanna Marsh. Abdo Khal, the Saudi Arabian novelist who was awarded The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) 2010 less than a week ago, will be speaking at two sessions at the Festival.

Amit Chaudhuri, together with four Dubai-based musicians, will bring his celebrated ‘This is Not Fusion’ musical performance to the Middle East for the first time. The concert pulls together the major threads of 20th century western popular music – jazz, blues, techno, rock and disco – with Indian classical music in an original and eclectic way.

Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications - Emirates Airline, the title sponsors - also finds the programme stimulating. He said: "We are delighted to be involved with a festival which reflects the rich diversity of the many different communities which are proud to call Dubai home, while it is clear the event has also captured the imagination of the international literary community. Emirates is committed to the development of Dubai and we are excited by the growth of a festival which will further enhance the UAE’s burgeoning reputation as a centre for cultural events."

At this year’s Education Day on March 11, more than 3,000 students from around the UAE will attend a series of author sessions held at the Scientific and Cultural Association in Mamzar. Leading children’s authors including Jacqueline Wilson, performance poet Roger McGough and Lebanese author Nadine Touma will entertain and engage students throughout a packed morning programme which due to popular demand will be spread across additional venues in libraries, kindergartens and schools.

As part of the Education Day activities, Nadine Touma will visit the Dubai Public Library at Al Safa; Fatima Sharaffedine will tour the Al Twar library and emerging Emirati writers will meet at the Al Rashidiya library. Magrudy’s will showcase books for sale at the libraries for a book-signing ceremony attended by the authors, who will share their experiences in writing. The libraries will also host story-telling sessions.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said the patronage of the Authority to the event highlights the focus of Dubai to promote stronger dialogue between writers and the public and thus promoting an understanding and appreciation of literary culture, “The Education Day initiative that brings authors face to face with the public, especially children, will help to foster a deeper understanding of the writing process, and inspire young talent to hone their skills. Dubai Culture & Arts Authority is focused on promoting literature as one of the key cornerstones of Dubai’s cultural identity, and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is a perfect platform for this.