The curtain has fallen on the 24th edition of the Sardinian book fair. The event concluded with a resounding success, attracting record numbers in four days, with thousands of attendees, including visitors, authors, publishers, and school groups.
For four days, the event attracted visitors from across the peninsula to the town. The school workshops attracted considerable participation: approximately 3,500 students participated, arriving in Macomer on shuttles provided by the organizers. In addition to all schools of all levels in Macomer, schools from Silanus, Bosa, Suni, Tresnuraghes, Tempio, Cabras, Solanas, Oristano, Cagliari, Sindia, Santu Lussurgiu, Scano Montiferro, Bolotana, and the CPIA in Nuoro also participated.
The event stood out for its cross-cultural interplay, giving space to music, illustration, theater, and photography, particularly represented by Davide Agati's exhibition "The Wild Line." Numerous meetings with authors, including Sardinian publishing houses Catartica, Nor, Condaghes, Ischìre, Barbaro, Abbà, and Angelica, were held, along with voices from the Italian peninsula. Some events were deeply emotional, such as the testimony of Paralympic athlete Manuel Bortuzzo, the reading by journalist Ezio Mauro dedicated to the birth of the Republic, the performance by Aurelio Sechi, and Giancarlo Biffi's performance on his family's experiences in the Resistance, culminating in the closing performance, "I diari del provinciale" by Federico Quaranta.
"This year's Exhibition has had a very positive development," says Mayor Riccardo Uda, "not only because of the publishers and guests present, but especially because of the workshops held in Macomer's schools, the library, and the Cultural Services Center. The ever-increasing number of students involved is our greatest satisfaction and, along with the events that have enlivened these days, has made the twenty-fourth edition of the Exhibition a resounding success." Councilor for Culture Rita Atzori adds: "The large audience participation motivates us to do even better next year."
Roberta Balestrucci, coordinator for the Cultural Services Center: "I take with me the rich legacy of the many children and young people who participated in the workshops and the importance of our publishing industry, which despite a thousand challenges, preserves Sardinia's history, tells its story, and enthusiastically strives to bring it overseas."
