Wirz brings the book into the conversation
The name Wirzandfriends should not lead you astray: Claudius Wirz does not run an advertising agency, but an agency for books, media and culture.
The name Wirzandfriends should not be taken the wrong way: Claudius Wirz does not run an advertising agency, but an agency for books, media and culture.The focus of his business activities is the book, its staging - and its marketing. Since February 2001, Wirz has been operating an interface between sponsors and authors, publishers, the press and bookstores. Wirz works together with an employee, the Friends form a wide network of personal contacts, which he can flexibly call on for projects and
that reach all the way to the Elbe River.
The trained bookseller gained his expertise at various publishing houses and bookstores in Switzerland and at a marketing agency in Hamburg. Among other things, he was also responsible for communications at Orell Füssli Buchhandels AG.
The Wirzandfriends agency mainly wants to put books at the center of events. The spectrum ranges from readings and press conferences for publishers to next year's big project, the first Zurich Literature Festival. This is to take place from March 1 to 3, 2002, and run for three days and four nights. National and international authors will meet at the main venue, Unterwek Selnau, and in other locations such as a courtroom or the rehearsal stage of the Schauspielhaus.
For both the literature festival and other events, Wirz makes a point of ridding literary events of their dusty image. "For example, the festival will consist of 80 percent literature and 20 percent music," Wirz reveals. That makes for interesting combinations, such as reading and rapping or crime stories and jazz.
"Books are on the rise again," says the agency founder. Reading consumption in Germany, for example, has been on the rise again for a long time, and trendy young people can certainly be recruited as an audience for literary events. Wirz also senses a growing interest on the part of large companies, such as insurance and telecommunications firms, to get involved in the book sector.
He doesn't want to draw the book's boundaries too tightly. In the coming weeks, the agency will also be promoting the film "The Lord Of The Rings" on behalf of Go-Between Communications - albeit in bookstores. (ba)
that reach all the way to the Elbe River.
The trained bookseller gained his expertise at various publishing houses and bookstores in Switzerland and at a marketing agency in Hamburg. Among other things, he was also responsible for communications at Orell Füssli Buchhandels AG.
The Wirzandfriends agency mainly wants to put books at the center of events. The spectrum ranges from readings and press conferences for publishers to next year's big project, the first Zurich Literature Festival. This is to take place from March 1 to 3, 2002, and run for three days and four nights. National and international authors will meet at the main venue, Unterwek Selnau, and in other locations such as a courtroom or the rehearsal stage of the Schauspielhaus.
For both the literature festival and other events, Wirz makes a point of ridding literary events of their dusty image. "For example, the festival will consist of 80 percent literature and 20 percent music," Wirz reveals. That makes for interesting combinations, such as reading and rapping or crime stories and jazz.
"Books are on the rise again," says the agency founder. Reading consumption in Germany, for example, has been on the rise again for a long time, and trendy young people can certainly be recruited as an audience for literary events. Wirz also senses a growing interest on the part of large companies, such as insurance and telecommunications firms, to get involved in the book sector.
He doesn't want to draw the book's boundaries too tightly. In the coming weeks, the agency will also be promoting the film "The Lord Of The Rings" on behalf of Go-Between Communications - albeit in bookstores. (ba)
