Successful trade fair appearance of the Gutenberg Foundation in Mainz at drupa 2024
Although drupa 2024 is the world's largest trade fair for the latest innovations in printing technology, it has always reserved a special place for the cultivation and presentation of printing tradition. This year, it was in Hall 14, where the Gutenberg Foundation from Mainz, together with the Gutenberg Museum and the Gutenberg Society, had an impressive joint stand under the motto 'Where printing began'.
High expectations and historic importance
In the run-up to drupa, Zvjezdana Cordier, Managing Director of the Gutenberg Foundation in Mainz, emphasised the historical significance of the art of printing in Mainz and the long tradition of the Foundation. Throughout the eleven days of the fair, the Mainz delegation offered a varied programme to bring visitors closer to the beginnings of the art of printing. Highlights included live demonstrations on a replica of Gutenberg's press and an exhibition of richly illustrated Bible pages.
Lively presentations and crowds of visitors
“We successfully defended our reputation as the fair's mascot," said Cordier after eleven intense days at the fair. The joint stand attracted around 2,400 active visitors. In addition, there were walk-ins, so she estimates the total number of visitors at around 8,000.
Particularly popular were the up to 25 daily printing demonstrations, during which visitors were able to reprint the first page of the Gospel of John from the Gutenberg Bible themselves. The art of book illumination also attracted a great deal of interest. The newly designed exhibition on the fundamentals of Gutenberg's inventions attracted mainly Asian and American visitors, who were particularly interested in the traditional techniques of letter casting, typesetting and printing.
Another highlight was the Gutenberg Shop, where miniature books, Bible pages and Gutenberg busts were on sale. These souvenirs were very well received, which was reflected in the sales figures. The Gutenberg busts were particularly popular. The proceeds of several thousand euros will now be donated to the Gutenberg Museum.
After the fair: Positive results and plans for the future
For the Gutenberg Foundation in Mainz, participation in drupa 2024 was not only a cultural success, but also a financial one. The fair showed that the interest in the roots of the art of printing is unbroken. We look forward to continuing to communicate the importance of Gutenberg and his inventions in the future,' says Cordier. Some visitors and exhibitors even made a spontaneous trip to the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.
With its involvement in drupa 2024, the Mainz Gutenberg Foundation has once again demonstrated that the fascination with the beginnings of the art of printing is alive and well - even in the midst of state-of-the-art printing presses.
