The director of the Madrid Book Fair, Eva Orúe, gives a provisional assessment: "The closure for two afternoons has hurt us a lot."
About to close out what was her fourth Book Fair as director, Eva Orúe gives a provisional and cautious assessment of 17 days for 20minutos , as the film would say... 'we live dangerously.' Orúe only highlights one problem that needs to be addressed in the future: the weather , which, due to excessive temperatures and its consequences, has forced the closure of the doors on two evenings. When we spoke with her, the director was unaware of the official figures and accounts, but she was willing to give this edition a rating, which took place under the light of New York in the gardens of Madrid's Retiro Park. In her opinion, the 84th Fair passes with a very high mark.
On a scale of 1 to 10, what score would you give the results of this Fair? Overall, I'd say an 8, although the economic and visitor figures we don't yet know could skew that initial assessment. But it's true that the closure of the Fair for two afternoons has been very detrimental to us. In any case, we trust that those who were planning to visit us on those fateful days did not fail to do so, and that those who have visited El Retiro leave satisfied with the books they purchased, the authors they recognized, and the activities we held.
The protocols at El Retiro need to be improved because they sometimes generate misunderstanding and are difficult to apply.
What would you have liked to have worked better if it had been in your hands? I think that, while always respecting the protocols in force at all times in El Retiro Park, which is our home during the Fair, we need to improve their implementation because, at times, they generate misunderstandings and are difficult not only to explain, but, above all, to apply.
Have the weather variations been a major burden on the Fair, both financially and organizationally? At the time of this interview, we don't yet have sales or attendance figures, so I can't answer definitively. I do know that the impression regarding both sales and visitors is good, and that, despite the inconveniences, there is a good atmosphere among the exhibitors.
In principle, things seem to have gone well, but we'll have to consider each case individually. We can't control the closures.
Have you been able to speak with exhibitors to find out their overall impressions? Impressions are rarely general; everyone talks about the Fair based on their experience, and it's logical that this should be the case. Initially, things seem to have gone well, but we'll have to consider each case individually. And everyone has their opinion regarding the closures, without a doubt, and although it's obviously not an issue we can control because the development of the protocols doesn't depend on the Madrid Book Fair, we'll have to work hard on this matter over the coming months.
Have you received any critical or non-critical feedback that could help you in future editions? Both exhibitors and visitors often comment on the good and bad aspects of each edition. It's a different matter, however, that even if we listen to them carefully, we can still apply all their ideas because the Fair has logic that sometimes defies our own reasoning. However, it's obvious that the Fair, like any living being, can not only grow and change, but above all, improve, so any suggestion we deem appropriate will be taken into account.
Was the physical exhaustion (17 days with an average of twelve hours there) worth it? Meeting writers, seeing people devoted to books, visiting celebrities promoting it... The exhaustion is worth it because we've been working for a year for these 17 days of exhibition, of explosion, of the Fair. However, if I have one complaint, it's that the position of director has so many demands unrelated to cultural activity that, on many occasions, authors and important figures pass through the fair, and you can barely say hello. To speak and enjoy their influence, I'll have to wait until I'm a simple visitor to the fair.
Now I will read something related to the destination I choose for my vacation, a long trip that will not be close
Are you already thinking about next year's Fair? Can you give us any advance information: theme, ideas, foreign presence...? We've been working on next year's Fair for a couple of months now, and this Sunday we'll announce the theme (which must remain secret for now) immediately after the Fair closes. And as soon as we take a short break, we'll meet with the members of the 2026 Book Fair organizing committee to get everything underway.
What are you going to read this vacation, or will you be engaging in other activities unrelated to your work? I don't know what I'll read, but it will surely be something related to the destination I choose for my vacation... a destination that isn't close; mine will be a long trip. You'll allow me to keep it a secret.
20minutos
