The first-graduated Onshur accelerator program in Sharjah for publishing houses with track records, a program from the Sharjah Book Authority, the Emirates Publishers Association, and Sharjah Publishing City free zone (which hosted the June 5 ceremony in its theater). Image: SBA, Nabs Ahmedi
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Surpassing the Boundaries of Traditional Training’
Some of our readers will remember that in N0vember, we covered the first graduation of a class of Onshur, an accelerator for publishers in the United Arab Emirates’ third state, Sharjah.
A project of the emirate’s Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) with support from the Sharjah Publishing City free zone, Onshur celebrated it 20 aspiring publishers’ conclusion of a six-week training program which, as the Book Authority’s Iman Ben Chaibah told us, started with “what it means to publish, why to publish.” Those original 20 graduates were chosen for the program from more than 140 applicants.
And earlier this month, another stage in the development of the Onshur program and its work was reached when the first group a “scale track” of publishers was graduated.
The ceremony honored 12 publishers who completed the intensive training course, and their success was welcomed by the Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, and the Book Authority CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri; and Emirates Publishers Association executive director Rashid Al Kous.
This time the pool from which the graduating publishers were selected comprised 62 applicants. To be part of of the final group, each publisher had to include “a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality cultural content and a well-defined strategic vision for expansion aligned with international publishing developments.” Obviously, one of the things notable about this program is that its chosen participants are actively operating publishers, not in the “aspirational” league.
Among those publishers in the new graduating group:
- Ajyal Publishing
- Ghaf Publication
- Sidra Publishing and Distribution
- Loaloa Publishing and Distribution
- Kalman Publishing and Distribution
- Nabatti Publishing
- Shaheen Printing Publishing and Distribution
- Dar Al-Farqad
- Dar Shams Publishing
- Dar Al Fikr Al Jadeed
- Dar Al Bayan Al Arabi
- Noor Publishing
A Rapidly Evolving Publishing Landscape
During the ceremony, Al Qasimi, in her comments, went over the rationale for this program, saying, “The scale track reflects our vision of enabling publishers to move beyond survival, toward a future defined by excellence, creativity, and leadership in enriching the Arab publishing landscape both locally and internationally.
Bodour Al Qasimi
“I’m proud of this cohort,” she said, the members of which “have shown a remarkable capacity for learning, growth, and openness to new experiences.
“I believe they’re now equipped with the tools and insights needed to build more resilient and adaptable business models. While they represent the current state of Arab publishing, they’re equally poised to shape its international future, fueled by ambition, determination, and a genuine passion for the written word.”
Rashid Al Kous
Al Kous, speaking for the Emirates Publishers Association, said, “We extend our congratulations to this exceptional group,” the members of which “have exemplified what it means to turn vision into reality.
“The scale track has provided participants with critical skills enabling them to thrive in both local and international markets amid a rapidly evolving publishing landscape.”
Iman Ben Chaibah
Iman Ben Chaibah, the director of Sharjah Book Authority’s strategic initiatives and international markets, said, “The scale track has surpassed the boundaries of traditional training.
“It has established a professional platform dedicated to enhancing publishers’ operational capabilities and deepening their industry expertise.”
The newly graduated scale track programs get a year of professional accounting service; guidance in applying to the Sharjah International Translation Grant; being placed in Ingram Content Group’s international distribution network; and access to business loans secured against publishing contracts.
At the Onshur scale track graduation are, from left, Iman Ben Chaibah; Bodour Al Qasimi; and Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri. Image: SBA, Nabs Ahmedi
More from Publishing Perspectives on international book fairs and trade shows is here, more on Sharjah Book Authority and its programs is here, more on the Sharjah International Book Fair is here, and more on international book and publishing awards is here.