translated from Spanish: Publishers Association reiterates that it will not go to FILSA 2018

the Association of publishers of Chile reported that it will not participate as an entity in the next edition of the International book fair of Santiago (FILSA) 2018, despite recent statements in that sense of Eduardo Castillo, President of the Chamber of the book, which organizes the event.
“The Publishers Association is going to participate, that is conversational. They go, are committed to the fair”, had said Castle, challenged for malpractices, to this medium in a note published this week.
The camera is currently challenged, not only by its limited representativeness, but by not allowing the equitable participation of the other three unions in the sector – association, the Corporation of the book (which the transnational groups) and the cooperative Editors of the fury (independent) – at the event.
The Government has also conditioned its financial and institutional support to the presence of all the guilds in one of the main cultural events of the year.
Without compromise in writing in a statement on Thursday, the Association said although attempted to reach agreement, the camera didn’t give a written in a “fair for all”. He also said future he hopes the creation of a directory or foundation that group collectively to those involved, including the Government, to the Organization of the event.
For this version they have only confirmed their participation the cooperative. The Corporation also refuses to participate in the current conditions.
With a budget of about $600 million, the Ministry of culture has conditioned a contribution of $80 million to an agreement between the four guilds. The institutional support from the Government is also key to its legitimacy as a country event.
“Participatory spaces” in the statement, the Publishers Association said that “decided not to participate with a collective stand in FILSA 2018. “This, since we believe necessary to work and move forward, together with the entire sector linked to the reading and the book”.
“We think that it is important to join the construction of different spaces, inclusive and participatory, putting the collective interest as horizon, allowing you to return to give sense and cultural depth to FILSA,” said the statement.
A participation of all stakeholders “will also help to face the multiple challenges of the world of the book, which go beyond this fair, and that the participation of everyone is required to advance in the construction of a diverse ecosystem of differently “, with balances Basic, so the book to regain its cultural, educational and liberating base above the commercial character as only purpose”.
“Chile needs enhanced as creator and producer at the intellectual level, country not to follow sentenced to an uneven economy and exporting primary: it sucks the national policy of reading and the book”.
By a “Foundation” for the Association, to ensure that FILSA is a “fair for all”, “is required a Committee or Board which exercises an effective address in this and that at least one representative from each of the four signatory groups participate in” previous protocols, as well as also a representative of the Ministry of culture, arts and heritage”.
“This could materialize in the form of a Foundation, in which we are all involved, and can thus, collective management”, he said.
“In addition we believe that it is necessary to advance that there is transparency of information in all areas of the Organization and results of the event; and fairness for all exhibitors and publishers in various aspects, as the exhibition spaces, and cultural and communications programming,”says.
Conversation failed according to the Association, despite the negotiations and their willingness to sign an agreement, the camera would not let in writing its commitment to greater participation.
“We have been in talks with the Chilean book Chamber, with the aim of signing a protocol of agreements that leave in writing a commitment to work for FILSA 2018 and the future. Although the Chamber agreed to sign a Protocol, the document proposed by this institution are not reflected agreements which for us are the minimum to move towards a ‘fair for all’ “.”
Regardless of the decision of editors of Chile in relation to the collective stand, this does not preclude the publishing partner to our group to participate on their own in FILSA 2018, added the statement.
Spring of the book partnership also indicated that it will focus its efforts in the seventh version of the spring of the book, which will be held from 4 to 7 October this year in Santiago’s Bustamante Park.
Every year more than 100 independent, University and independent publishers are participating in this fair, with free entry. The spring of the book is organized by publishers of Chile with the support of the municipality and the Fundación Cultural de Providencia.
“Today, our time and energies are put in making this event a great celebration of the book and its entire ecosystem,” concluded the statement.

Original source in Spanish