Preparations are under way for the celebration of the annual book and culture fair. The 16th International Santo Domingo Book Fair 2013 will take place from 21 April to 5 May on the grounds of the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte. This year it is dedicated to Ecuador.
Some 160 publishing companies will be taking part and there will be a new pavilion dedicated to poetry. Alfaguara award winner, writer Jose Ovejero and prolific Argentinean writer Ana Maria Shua will be attending.
The event is more a cultural extravaganza than a book fair, nevertheless. Special activities will be held to commemorate the Bicentenary of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte, the 150th anniversary of the Restoration War, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dominican poet Pedro Mir, the 50th anniversary of the start of democracy in the country and the rebellion led by Manolo Tavarez Justo.