According to the Georgian Book Market Survey conducted by LEPL Georgian National Book Centre in 2013-2015: “By 2015, about 100 publishing houses were registered in Georgia, of which 55 were active publishers, most of them were small businesses.
In 2013-2015, the largest share of revenues received by publishing houses came from sales of fiction. Editions and sale of academic/professional literature (20%), children’s literature (11%) and supporting textbooks (9%) are the most profitable after fiction for publishing houses.”
According to the Geostat data, the total circulation of books and brochures published in 2016 was 3.1 million copies, and the circulation of published magazines – 27.8 million copies. There is no data for subsequent years.
In recent years, the number of printed newspapers has sharply decreased: in 2016 there were 317 newspapers, in 2017 – 218, in 2018 -175, in 2019- 177 and in 2020 – only 98. Such a decline is due to the sharp increase in consumption of electronic publications and social networks.
About 80% of the book publishers registered in Georgia are members of the NNLE Georgia Publishers and Booksellers Association. The Association was founded in 1996. (http://www.gpba.ge/ ) and it defines and protects the interests and copyright in the book sector and freedom in publishing. The Association has developed a code of professional ethics as well as legislation to improve the book sector.
In 1997 the Association held the first Tbilisi Book Festival, which has become annual since 2000 and is the largest international book fair in Georgia.
There are also other local book fairs: Tbilisi Book Days, Book and Music, New Year Book Festival, Autumn Book Festival, Tbilisi Book Fair, New Year Book Fair, and International Book Day.
The largest forum for the international popularization of Georgian literature and books is the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the Georgian national stand has been presented since 2007. In 2018, Georgia was represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair as an honorary guest.
Tbilisi is the World Book Capital (UNESCO) from April 23, 2021 for a year.
The Tax Code of Georgia specifies some preferences for the importation of scientific, creative editions and fiction, books and periodicals where the authors are citizens of Georgia as well as for the importation of Georgian classics published abroad. Guidelines are also set for the distribution, import, sale and printing of periodicals and fiction. The state supports publishing activities through governmental programmes.
In 2021, 900 000 GEL was allocated for the priority area “Promotion of Georgian Books and Literature” of the Culture Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth.
LEPL Writers’ House and LEPL Creative Georgia are the state organizations supporting the development of literature and creativity of writers with this funding through various literary competitions.
The strategic document “Culture Strategy 2025” (01.07.2016), Chapter III: Sector-specific Tasks lists priorities for Literature and Publishing:
- In order to develop reading habits/skills and literacy of the public, particularly among children and youth, and promote literature in general, it is important to work with different organizations (e.g.: the National Parliamentary Library, the Writers’ House, the Literature Museum, the Service Development Agency, etc.) and support special projects and events;
- For the protection and development of national literature, including literary heritage, to setup necessary mechanisms and a convenient environment to create, publish and translate new works and also make them accessible; introduce residency programmes for Georgian writers;
- Support participation in international events, such as festivals, exhibitions and competitions in order to develop and ensure international promotion of Georgian literature;
- Sustain the teaching of creative writing at all levels of education and encourage the development of literature studies and criticism;
- Support the development of children’s literature through special funding mechanisms;
- Support the translation of Georgian literature into other languages and vice-versa; provide training programmes for the translators of the Georgian literature and develop professional networks of translators;
- In order to ensure the development of print distribution networks, to study the ocal market and in accordance with international best practices, to elaborate measures for encouraging book quality control and incentives for publishers and distributors;
- Facilitate the production and distribution of different types of (cultural, scientific and technical) literature in order to support publishing companies;
- Taking into consideration innovative approaches and new technologies, to elaborate special training programmes, in order to develop, distribute and promote e-books.
In 2020, the Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association conducted a study, which found that “as of 2021, there are about 150 book publishing companies in Georgia. The vast majority of them are in Tbilisi and most of them are small businesses. Book sales was characterized by an upward trend until 2019”.
According to the study, “the most popular and large-scale book fair is the Tbilisi International Book Festival, which is characterized by the large number of visitors and loyal publishers”. Among international events with the largest number of Georgian participants, the Frankfurt Book Fair leads the way, with publishers showing particularly strong interest in 2018. “Frankfurt is followed by Sharjah, Leipzig and London book fairs with a relatively high number of participants.”
It is worth noting that in addition to publishers, cultural and educational centres such as: state universities, museums, etc. contribute to the development of the Georgian book market.
According to the research, the average selling price of a book amounted to (GEL/EUR):
- 2016- 14.04 /5.37
- 2017- 14,16/5.07
- 2018- 14.94/4.81
- 2019-16.51/5.40
- 2020- 18.04/5.61
Along with printed literature, the e-book market is also developing. Digital editions are mainly available on the websites of the publishers themselves, as well as in specialized online stores (eg, www.saba.com.ge , www.lit.ge and www.ibooks.ge). However, it still represents a small share of publishers’ revenues (<10%) according to 2020 data.
LEPL Writers’ House has played an important role in the development of literature and the book business. It’s task is to create an open space for the presentation of the Georgian and world cultural traditions and ongoing literary processes.
In 2019, the Writers’ House and the National Book Centre of Georgia merged. The Writers’ House aims to popularize cultural heritage and literature, promote literary processes, establish literary competitions and awards, establish and develop contacts with foreign governmental and nongovernmental organizations, agencies and creative associations, to create two museums (D. Sarajishvili and repressed writers), offer interesting projects for young people interested in literature, and to publish a literary newspaper.
Since 2023, the change of leadership of the Writers’ House has led to some writers and publishers to oppose the new leadership and to their boycott of important activities organized by the Writers’ House.
The document Culture for Democracy mentions the following anti-democratic examples:
“These are some instances of repressive politics:
Writers House – Appointed a new director who, as a member of the Georgian Parliament, cut funding for important programmes and events like the Tbilisi International Festival of Literature and the Tbilisi International Book Fair. They also interfered with the main literary prize – Litera, resulting in over 100 writers, translators, and publishers boycotting the Writers’ House and the Ministry. In response, independent participation, funded by publishers, was organized at the Frankfurt Book Fair, along with the Independent Litera and Tbilisi Literature Festival, conducted by PEN Georgia and supported by international partners and local businesses”.
This document created by initiative “Culture for Democracy” (19.08.2024)
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