The Ukrainian Institute of Books called on the state to pay off a debt of almost 45 million
[ad_1]
The Ukrainian Book Institute expressed concern about the lack of payment for projects created in 2023. The state institution published an appeal to the Minister of Finance and the Head of the State Treasury Service of Ukraine.
Read UP. Culture in Telegram
The Institute’s programs aimed to support publishing activities and popularize Ukrainian literature in Ukraine and in the world. Both Ukrainian and foreign publishers were involved in the projects. However, as it turned out, the state is in debt to them.
“We are very sorry that the state cannot reimburse the costs, thus further worsening the situation in which the Ukrainian book publishing industry found itself“, they wrote in the appeal.
The amount owed is 44 million 935 thousand UAHin particular, according to the programs:
- Artistic contest of cultural and artistic projects, within which Ukrainian publishing houses produced and handed over to the libraries of Ukraine patriotic book products at their own expense (131 contracts, debt in the amount UAH 33.1 million).
- Art competition of cultural and artistic projects for the organization and holding of activities for the promotion of reading (5 contracts, debt in the amount of UAH 1.79 million).
- Translation Support Program 2023 – Translate Ukraine. In this program, foreign publishers who invested their own funds in translation projects did not receive payment.
| Ukrainian national stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo: Akim Karpach. |
The UIC also emphasized that indebtedness to foreign companies threatens the development of Ukrainian book publishing.
“This calls into question the further cooperation of the Ukrainian Book Institute with them. After the publicity, it will be even more difficult for us to find those who are interested in publishing Ukrainian books abroad in the following years. In addition, translations from Ukrainian still do not have sufficient demand in various countries, and the lack of payment for already implemented projects will only complicate the position of the Ukrainian book in the world”, – representatives of the institution wrote.
Activities of the Ukrainian Book Institute
Ukrainian Institute of Books (UIK) – a state institution under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, which popularizes reading, supports book publishing and forms policy in the book industry.
In particular, UIC actively promotes Ukrainian literature abroad, participates in conferences and creates awareness of Ukraine at world book fairs. At the Warsaw Book Fair alone, 43 Ukrainian publishing houses and a stand with an area of 200 meters were presented. In addition, the Institute was the organizer of one of the three Ukrainian stands at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
 |
| Ukraine is the guest of honor at the International Book Fair in Warsaw. Photo: Ukrainian Book Institute. |
For the third year in a row, UIK is pleased National Reading Weekwhich popularizes reading and unites publishers, booksellers, writers and readers.
The Institute also supports libraries: in July 2023, the UIC invited librarians to join a “silent action” in order to renew the collections with current books instead of Russian ones. The UIC noted that they will demand from the Ministry of Culture to include UAH 1.2 billion in the budget for 2024 for the renewal of library funds.
“Ukrainians have the right to read true history, classics without bills. First of all, this applies to the eastern and southern regions. It is unlikely that it will be possible to do it within a year, two or three. But the sooner we start, the sooner we finish“, the director of the institution emphasized at the time Oleksandra Koval.
Read also: Be yourself: Why do we need National Reading Week
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
