National Center of Culture to Be the Epicenter of World Book Day Celebration on April 23

The National Center of Culture will be the epicenter of the activities celebrating World Book and Copyright Day this Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Free activities for the general public will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cenac facilities
• The Ministry of Culture and Youth’s program for World Book Day extends to other regions of the country with a broad and varied offering

The National Center of Culture (Cenac) will be the epicenter of the celebrations for World Book and Copyright Day this Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The free and open-to-the-public program will include a mini book fair, an exhibition of antique books, poetry recitations by prominent national writers, music performed by the SINEM Pavas string quartet, a special performance of swing and bolero criollo by La Vieja Guardia, the presentation of the choreography “The Ink of Your Voice” by the National Dance Company, the concert “Music and Words” by the Alajuela Concert Band, and to close, a guided tour of the exhibition “Encounters. Poetics of Grief and Regeneration” at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC).

Additionally, as part of the occasion, institutions of the Ministry of Culture and Youth will supplement the program with book-focused activities starting April 22, including book presentations, discussion forums, concerts, book releases, guided tours, and other initiatives.

“Today we celebrate the book, that simple and marvelous object that has accompanied peoples in their dreams of freedom, justice, and beauty. A book is a seed: it is planted in the mind, but it blooms in the soul. It gives us words when we don’t know how to name what we feel, it gives us refuge when the world overwhelms, and it gives us wings when the present becomes narrow. That’s why we work every day so that every child, every youth, every senior can find in books an open door: to imagination, critical thinking, memory, and hope,” stated Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth.

“On this Book Day, we proudly remember that libraries, fairs, reading clubs, reading points, and the programs we bring to every corner of the country are not just services: they are acts of love, cultural policy, and democracy,” concluded the minister.

World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated every April 23 to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Proclaimed by UNESCO’s General Conference in 1995, this symbolic date in world literature coincides with the passing of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

Program Details: World Book and Copyright Day

Official Celebration at the National Center of Culture, April 23

• 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Mini book fair and exhibition of antique books
• 1:00 p.m. | Poetry recitations – Prominent national writers
• 1:20 p.m. | String quartet – SINEM Pavas
• 1:40 p.m. | Performance of swing and bolero criollo – La Vieja Guardia
• 2:00 p.m. | Choreography “The Ink of Your Voice,” National Dance Company
• 2:10 p.m. | Concert “Music and Words,” Alajuela Concert Band
• 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. | Guided tour of the exhibition “Encounters. Poetics of Grief and Regeneration,” MADC

General MCJ Programming | Book Day

• National Archives of Costa Rica
  • Book exchange through a dedicated little house. Every day. Main entrance of the National Archives. Open to all. Inquiries: aebarquero@dgan.go.cr / 2283-1400 ext. 228 (Ana Barquero).

• Colegio de Costa Rica
  • Book release. Organized by Colegio de Costa Rica and the National System of Public Libraries. April 22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At SINABI entrance and National Park. Open to all.

• National System of Libraries
  • Visit from the mobile library (Bibliobús), 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Hospital México, near the new building, emergency side.

• José Figueres Ferrer Historical Cultural Center (CCHJFF)
  • Noon Art: “Rebellious Poetry” (poetry, performance, and music) by Mario Gamboa Araya. For ages 12 and up. April 23, noon. CCHJFF, San Ramón, Alajuela. Free entry. Info: 2447-2178.

• Sociocultural Management Directorate (DGS), SINABI
  • Storytelling and theater celebrating Book Day. April 23, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Casa Alfredo González Flores National Monument, Heredia. Open to all.
    
  • Inauguration of Reading Club. Organized by DGS, SINABI, TND, CPJ, DIGEPAZ. April 23, 5 p.m., Civic Center for Peace, Garabito (Library). For youth.

• Heritage Directorate
  • Commemoration of the 115th anniversary of the Cartago Earthquake and book presentations by the Heritage Directorate. April 23, 6 p.m., Cartago Cultural Center. Open to all.

• Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC)
  • Book release of MAC publications. April 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., MAC and Casa del Artista School. Open to all.
    CIICLA book presentation “Sounds, Images and Letters: Representations of Diverse Landscapes”. April 23, 7 p.m., Room XIV, MAC.
  • 2024 publication presentations on exhibitions by artists Rodolfo Stanley and Adrián Arguedas. April 24, 7 p.m., Room XIV, MAC.
  • Presentation of “Critical Reflections: 2013–2023” by Aimée Joaristi. April 25, 7 p.m., Room XIV, MAC.

• Liberia Public Library
  • Theatrical storytelling, in collaboration with students from the University of Costa Rica. For children. April 23, 2 p.m., Liberia Public Library.
  • Book release. April 23, 2 p.m., near Liberia Library, Héctor Zúñiga Rovira Park, and Guanacaste Museum. Open to all.

• Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC)
  • Guided tour of the exhibition “Poetic Encounters of Grief and Regeneration”. April 23, 3 p.m., MADC.

• Dr. Rafael A. Calderón Guardia Museum (MHCG)
  • Trivia game “Find the Ruler and the Man in the Museum.” Winners receive the book of the same title. April 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Calderón Guardia Museum. Open to all.

• Juan Santamaría Historical Cultural Museum (MHCJS)
  • III Book Fair “The Hero”. April 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Outside and inside the museum. Open to all.

• National Museum of Costa Rica (MNCR)
  • Storytelling afternoon. April 23, 10 a.m., National Museum.
  • Creative writing workshop. April 22–25, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., National Museum Auditorium.
  • Book release. April 23, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Open to all.

• National Theater of Costa Rica (TNCR)
  • “Wednesdays of Literature, Poetry, and Dialogue”. Special Utopia edition: participation of independent poetry publishers. April 23, 6:30 p.m., TNCR. Free entry, limited space. Tickets at the theater box office. Open to all.

• Limón Public Library
  • Literary Picnic. April 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Organized by Limón Public Library in collaboration with the School Library Network of Limón.

• SINEM Limón
  • Special concert for the inauguration of the “Reading Plaza” during the Book Fair organized by Limón Municipality, SINABI, and G&E Chocolate Adventure Company. Featuring Uvita Kids Choir and Arte Brilla Dance Group. April 26, 1 p.m., Vargas Park, Downtown Limón.

• Heredia Public Library
  • Book release and “Reading in the Park” session. For children. April 29, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Cubujuquí Park, Heredia.

• National Library
  • Children’s reading workshop, coordinated by the National Library and Colegio de Costa Rica, conducted by author Katiana Murillo. For ages 7–12. April 30, 9 a.m., National Library of Costa Rica.

• National Music Institute (CNM)
  • Performance of “Peter and the Wolf”. May 11, 11 a.m., Antigua Aduana.