Small Publishers Fair showcases the brilliance and diversity of UK Small Press publishing and international publishers with links to this community.
The numbers
Since 2002 some 300 publishers have taken part in Small Publishers Fair. Conway Hall holds 55 tables. With shared tables this makes for around sixty five publishers each year.
Geography
There’s a balance of geography (some two thirds of publishers come from outside London or around the world), and of diversity of work (artists books, poetry, fine press, zines etc).
First time publishers
Each year a small number of publishers are invited to take part for the first time (in 2023 this was thirteen).
Community
The Fair has a role in celebrating and nurturing community. It’s about selling books but also catching up with friends, making contacts, seeing new work and discussing or showcasing collaborations.
For this reason most participants will be invited back, maybe not every year, but at some point. Increasingly, when they’re not invited, publishers pop along anyway as visitors.
Invitation not application
There isn’t an application process. Publishers are invited to take part and they pay a fee to do so.
Make an approach
The Fair is programmed by Helen Mitchell (contact@smallpublishersfair.co.uk). Publishers are welcome to write in the spring to introduce their imprint or provide an update. It’s useful to know about autumn projects you would like to showcase. Please be brief.
For other UK book fairs check out Book Fair Calendar.
Finances
The Fair is independent, self-funding and not-for profit. Fees paid by invited participants cover hall hire, organisation, staffing and production; and marketing, including digital and print media.
