For the first time in 44 years, the Oaxaca International Book Fair (FILO) will not be held this year. In a statement, the organizers argued that current conditions “in the area of cultural financing” do not allow it to take place.
“After more than 40 years of holding, the Oaxaca International Book Fair (FILO) is taking a hiatus in 2025. This decision has been made responsibly, recognizing that current conditions—particularly in the area of cultural financing—do not allow it to be held with the quality and commitment that has characterized it,” they reported.
In the 44th edition, the FILO suffered a 90 percent budget cut in public funds. While in 2023, they received around 8 million pesos, the public budget allocated to organize last year’s fair was approximately 300,000 pesos. Since 2010, it has received at least 75 million pesos in public funds.
This cut forced the organizers to hold the fair again last year in the Zócalo in Oaxaca City, after its previous location had been the Cultural and Convention Center.
The FILO organizers, led by businessman Guillermo Quijas, owner of the School Supply Company and the Almadía and Fondo Ventura publishing houses, asserted that this “pause” is an opportunity for reflection and redesign.
“We know that culture is a living entity that changes and must adapt to its context. Those of us who organize the fair conduct an observation exercise every year to evaluate and design a project appropriate to the current situation,” they stated.
In their statement, they affirmed that FILO will continue “to uphold its vocation for audience development and the promotion of reading, to offer a meeting place around books and reading. A festival that combines freely accessible cultural offerings with first-class programming and a festive experience for the reading community.”
Finally, they assured that the fair will return transformed, renewed, and “more vibrant than ever.”
Source: oaxaca.eluniversal
