Book Spa this year with Radka Denemarková, Kateřina Tučková

The organisers believe that the launch of a collaboration with the annual Magnesia Litera Awards, offering additional literary readings or other participation of award-winning authors in the festival programme, will highlight the importance of contemporary literature. The Book Spa, sought after as a meeting place for the literary and cultural world from all over the country, provides, among other things, an opportunity to raise the profile of the work of young emerging authors, while also providing an important domestic market for smaller publishers whose books resonate in society.
"The encounter over books is gaining importance in an age when consumer rationality and the luxury of condescending indifference prevail. A place where one can be oneself and develop the best in oneself freely. Contact with readers is always an oasis of independent expression of life for me," says Radka Denemarková about her participation in the Book Spa. "In today's accelerated and fragmented times, I find it meaningful to support the public's relationship with literature. Indeed, I love doing this - whether in the form of meeting young authors in a workshop, in a discussion with students, or with male and female readers, because I know how much value we can pass on to each other when discussing literary works," adds Kateřina Tučková, the second ambassador.
The Book Spa was created in 2020 in response to the first wave of the covid pandemic as an event of contemporary book and reading culture taking care of the mental health of visitors, which is also why every year the organisers announce Free Reading Stays for the public. Three selected participants will receive an invitation to the festival and a half-board stay in one of the partner hotels in Marienbad. Just answer a few simple questions. The finalists of the fourth edition of the Summer School of Writing will also meet on site.

The accompanying programme will include evening concerts - Bára Poláková will perform on Friday and Lenka Dusilová on Saturday. There will also be a regular Saturday Pecha Kucha Night with guests from across the art and cultural world. Rony Plesl, a prominent Czech glass artist and designer, will talk about his relationship to literature, and Helena Honcoopová and Petr Berkovec will discuss translations from Japanese. There will also be workshops - the workshop of a small journalist will be led by Michaela Vetešková, editor and author of the first ever media education book for the first grade, and the participants will be introduced to the field of illustration in one of the other workshops by artist and graphic designer Andrea Tachezy. Stand up will be offered by poet Anna Štičková and book influencer Karolína Zoe Meixnerová. Most of the Book Spa programme will be free of charge.

"Culture and mineral water have one thing in common - both are good for the soul. We are happy to be part of the Book Spa and support a space where literature, inspiration and the tranquility of a spa town meet. Moreover, with the Magnesia brand, we are happy to give space to the winners of the prestigious Magnesia Litera literary award, which we have long supported - they will also be part of this year's programme," says Karolína Šimonová, brand manager of the Magnesia brand.

The general partner of the festival and the drinking regime is Mattoni 1873 with the Magnesia brand. The main partner is Ensana Health Spa Hotels. The accommodation partner is Orea Hotels Mariánské Lázně. The Book Spa is held with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The Book Spa is held with the financial support of the City of Mariánské Lázně and the Karlovy Vary Region. The partners of the Reading and Creative Stays are Ensana Health Spa Hotels, Orea Hotels Mariánské Lázně and Falkensteiner Spa Resort Marienbad. The organisers would also like to thank the Kolonáda brand of wafers for their support.