Arts Flanders

From 13 to 17 February 2012, eight foreign publishers invited to Flanders by the FLF discovered the flourishing world of Flemish children’s and youth literature on the third Publishers tour. The FLF offered them a cultural, creative and recreational programme during a midweek in Flanders. The publishers – from Sweden, Turkey, France, Spain, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and New Zealand – received guided literary tours in Antwerp and Ghent, and met authors, illustrators, specialists, scientists, publishers, book organisations etc.

In the mornings, appointments with several Flemish publishers of children’s and youth literature were planned. These informal meetings resulted in many new contacts and in appointments at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which takes place in the second half of March. In the afternoons they took a close look at the literary side of the cities they visited. The highlights of a fully booked week were the opening reception in the Nottebohm Room at the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library in Antwerp, the screening of the film ‘Northsea Texas’, introduced by author André Sollie, and a guided tour of the MAS by various Flemish authors.

One of the most important highlights of the Publishers Tour is traditionally the open workshop, where illustrators reconstruct their workplace. They bring along not only their books and original works but also work in progress and the materials they work with. These range from a table covered in paint and brushes to a laptop. Kristien Aertssen, Sabien Clement, Carll Cneut, Ann De Bode, Jan De Kinder, Elsje Dezwarte, Merel Eyckerman, Pieter Gaudesaboos, Ingrid Godon, Benjamin Leroy, Tom Schamp, Tom Schoonooghe, Kaatje Vermeire and Geert Vervaeke were showing original illustrations, working on the spot on new commissions and demonstrating their specific techniques to foreign publishers. For this part of the programme, we were invited to Ghent’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where amongst others Carll Cneut lectures in illustration.

Who’s who in the photograph: