Promoting Australian authors in Beijing

The Beijing International Book Fair Logo: Chinese Characters and 'BIBF: Beijing International Book Fair, on a white background above two images of book fair stalls.
01/10/2019

Australian independent publishers travelled in August to the Beijing International Book Fair again this year, along with some companies attending for the first time. According to the BIBF website, the number of partnership deals was up 5.6% on last year: 'Of these, 3840 were export or co-publishing deals (up 6.4%).'

Eight APA member organisations attended with a funding subsidy from the Independent Publishers Committee. Those returning included Big Sky Publishing, Rockpool Publishing, CSIRO Publishing and Ventura Press. Publishers attending for the first time were: University of Queensland Press, National Museum of Australia Press, Atlas Jones & Co, and Inspiring Publishers.

CSIRO Publishing’s Claire Gibson says returning was to build on existing relationships and to meet with certain publishers that had been identified prior to travelling. 'We also felt our profile had increased, as we had far more publishers visit the stand who had researched our list prior to the event.'

'Australians are viewed as willing collaborators who are open to ideas and new opportunities.' Gibson says, 'Something we learnt was that the University Presses that we are collaborating with are teaching programs and co-publishing overseas titles in English.'

Three women, attendees of the BIBF, pose for a picture.

Director of the University of Queensland Press (UQP) Ben James shares that attending was part of their mission to advocate for Australian authors globally. 'We recently identified opportunities in China that support our strategic vision to expand rights sales in Asia. BIBF provided an opportunity to better understand these markets and specifically make meaningful connections with publishing colleagues in China. I look forward to developing my initial meetings into valuable relationships on behalf of our authors.'

BIBF also provided UQP with insights as to their next moves in expanding into the Asia region. 'We found opportunities to learn about specific market dynamics that are currently proving important in determining our next steps.'

The National Museum of Australia attended for the first time as a scoping mission. 'We learnt that there are many avenues into the market and we will need to adjust some of our titles/publications to suit', says Liz McRae of the NMA. 'I think Australian Publishers are viewed as relaxed and friendly by the Chinese market but we could improve the stand to reflect the strength and creativity of the Australian publishing industry.' 

Claudia Rowe from Atlas Jones Company says as a first time attendee she came away full enthusiasm for the world of publishing possibilities, 'This is slowly ebbing away now but at the time it inspired a great burst of entrepreneurial action!'  Rowe particularly valued the generosity and experience of the other APA stand exhibitors as well as the face-to-face encounters and random introductions over the three professional days. 'There was something worthwhile in all of them. If I was to attend again, I would spend a lot more time in the lead-up to the event, arranging finely-targeted meetings. This is essential but so too is being open to what can happen unexpectedly, for these spontaneous moments are also full of possibility.'

Another highlight from the trip this year was the Australian embassy lunch. Jane Curry from Ventura Press wrote in Books + Publishing that the 'lunch was very productive' in bringing together publishers. 'We were united as publishers talking books, all with a keen interest in literature, retail and cultural trends.'

Gibson says, 'The embassy lunch was a valuable part of the trip. I did not appreciate the positive impact that meeting in an informal setting would have on subsequent formal meetings. Our partners genuinely valued the invitation, and the opportunity to meet in a relaxed setting and talk informally, not just with us but with other Australian publishers.'

Other highlights included: 

  • Romania was this year’s country of honour.  More than 20 publishers presented their poetry and literature at the Fair to create awareness of the richness of the Romanian culture amongst visitors.
  • 1186 cultural events were included in the full program.
  • More than 320,000 visitors attended over the five-day period.
  • A record number of 175,000 publishing professionals (up 16.7%) attended the Fair. 
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