LeaLA book fair makes Los Angeles the capital of books and reading in Spanish

Latin America - español

The world of Spanish books is thriving and becoming stronger at unique cultural festival

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May 08, 2015, 04:32 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaLA, the Los Angeles Spanish-Language Book Fair returns for its fourth edition from May 15 to 17, 2015, with a program for the general public, especially for Latino families and the Hispanic community. For three days at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this unique cultural festival will provide a space for connecting to the heritage and the most significant traditions of the language, all free of charge.

From May 15 to 17 LeaLA is presenting its 4th edition at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with a projected attendance of more than 85,000 people at this major cultural event open to all, absolutely free of charge.

More than one hundred authors from different countries will participate, notably distinguished writers such as the Italian Claudio Magris (2014 FIL award, nominated several times for the Nobel prize), Juan Villoro, Federico Reyes Heroles, Lydia Cacho, Mario Bellatin, Alberto Ruy-Sanchez, Javier Sicilia, Silvia Lemus, Benito Taibo, Rosa Beltran, Ana Clavel, Carmen Boullosa, Xavier Velasco and Maria Antonieta Collins, among others.

Major Hispanic community figures will be present including orchestra conductor Gustavo Dudamel and CNN journalist Ismael Cala, among others. A special children's pavilion named "Cri Cri" will feature hands on activities, readings, theatre and musical programs.

The University of Guadalajara has prepared an academic program with two key themes: human rights and migration, to be addressed by specialists and journalists. Against the backdrop of the Fair, an homage will be held for the legendary social activist Cesar Chavez, with the attendance of his family.

Mexico City will hold special pride of place in the proceedings as "guest of honor," appearing in Los Angeles with a program featuring the cultural wealth and diversity of Mexico's capital, its history, its international standing and its contributions to the contemporary world.

"In their different ways, our two countries owe a debt to the Latino community living and working in the United States. Mexico is beginning to recognize the cultural and educational liability suffered by those who have had to migrate for economic reasons, and it is hoping to acknowledge this debt through LeaLA," underscores LeaLA Director, Marisol Schulz.

LeaLA is an initiative organized by the non-profit University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, and supported by the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL – Guadalajara International Book Fair), as well as public and private institutions on both sides of the border.

Website: www.lea-la.com.

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SOURCE LeaLA