Curator—Yuliia Konopliana
In times of trauma, the need for translation — for finding the words to express shared meanings — becomes especially acute. Against the backdrop of living through a collective catastrophe, contradictions in the book industry become even more visible. However, these contradictions can be not only sources of conflict but also foundations for dialogue and for discovering new ways of interaction.
Creating a book is a collaborative effort that requires mutual understanding among all involved. A book is a small community where everyone speaks their own professional language — that of the writer, translator, illustrator, editor, or publisher. For our collective work to bear not bitter fruit but bring satisfaction from the process, we must learn, if not to speak one another’s language, then at least to listen and understand one another.
This year at the Book Arsenal, we will try to create a platform for dialogue and search for mutual understanding. We will gather to discuss how to build a supportive professional environment and how to respond to new challenges. How to deal with artificial intelligence, and how young professionals can find their way into the publishing world. There will be pitch sessions, portfolio reviews, and workshops for various industry specialists. And as part of the now-annual Book Arsenal Fellowship Program, the Book Arsenal will welcome foreign publishers and literary agents interested in Ukrainian publishing.