“the tremendous Small Publishers Fair”

Michael Caines, TLS | Brixton Review of Books

Overview
Small Publishers Fair is the annual celebration of books by contemporary artists, writers, composers, book designers and their publishers. It was set up by Martin Rogers of RGAP (Research Group for Artists Publications) and first took place in 2002.

The Fair brings together a community of small press publishers from across the UK and further afield and takes place in Conway Hall in London’s Bloomsbury on the last Friday and Saturday in October.

How it’s run
The Fair is independent, self-funding* and not-for-profit. Colin Sackett has been Fair designer since the beginning. Helen Mitchell has programmed and organised the Fair since 2012. Find out how the Fair is programmed here.

Recent Fairs
Small Publishers Fair 2022 was the best attended Fair with great sales and a brilliant atmosphere. The 2023 Fair was even better. Full details can be found on this website.

The 2020 fair was cancelled due to Covid, but in 2021 a ‘slow book fair’, OnlineSPF21, took place over two months. It showcased 58 publishers, a booklist and a feature on Lockdown Books.

Year-round impact
Through this website and social media, Small Publishers Fair provides light-touch, year-round profile and support for small press publishers and the events and institutions that showcase and support them.

Check out the Book Fair Calender and the list of Libraries and Collections. There is also a Blog with writings from Fair participants and links to digital materials.

“There are many things still to be done with folded paper and twine.”

Simon Cutts, Coracle Press

* In the early years some funding came from Derby Art College. Since 2012 there has been one-off support from University of East Anglia (the 2016 exhibition ‘Avant Folk’) and StartEast (2019 investment in design) a business support scheme for the arts in Norfolk and Suffolk, funded by European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England.

Small Publishers Fair 2022, photo @jhmmitchell
Essence Press at SPF 2018
Essence Press at SPF18. Photo Caspar Evans
Helen Douglas from Weproductions at Small Publishers Fair 2016. Photo Julie Mitchell
Helen Douglas, weproductions SPF16. Photo Julie Mitchell
Timglaset Editions from Malmo, Small Publishers Fair 2022, photo @jhmmitchell