Canada’s largest and longest-running art book fair is set to return in-person for the first time since 2019. The Vancouver Art Book Fair (VABF) will feature over 80 diverse exhibitors at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre on July 26 and 27.

“We’re really excited to have the fair back in person,” says Jonathan Middleton, co-organizer for the VABF. From events including panel discussions on zines sponsored by the Vancouver Art Gallery, book signings, a special reading of Garry Kennedy’s work by Cathy Busby and performances from guests like multi-disciplinary artist Julian Yi-Zhong Hou, there’s a breadth of events and literature on offer at this event.

“It’ll be a really broad range of artist-focused publishing,” Middleton says, adding that there will be a strong representation of Vancouver-based artists, small publishers and art institutions, as well as exhibitors from China, the United States, Norway, South Korea and more.

“That’s the exciting thing about the book fair is that you have everyone from zine makers who are doing things very DIY and low-budget … to the larger, higher budget catalogues, artists and books,” he says. Middleton adds that there will also be tables with student works, from UBC and Middleton’s own class at Emily Carr University.

A chance to connect

In its 11th iteration, the VABF is emphasizing the importance of connecting within the publishing community and with the public. These festivals, Middleton explains, are often the main – if not the only – way these publications reach wider audiences.

“Without seeing the kind of mass of these books and publications, you don’t necessarily always understand how vibrant it is,” Middleton says.

At events like these, Middleton adds, festival-goers often get the chance to meet with the publisher and artists behind the literary and artistic works.

“You also get to take in not only an individual artwork but also the context through which it’s produced. I think that context carries meaning,” Middleton says, adding that it’s important to create community and allow audiences to learn about how diverse the field is.

In the spirit of community-building the VABF will be hosting a new day-long symposium held at Emily Carr University on July 28. Attendees of the day-long event can learn about the world of art publishing through various panels on magazines and art criticism, distribution and funding and more.

This symposium is also an opportunity for exhibitors to network and meet other publishers from around the world beyond their booth neighbours.

“We’re doing this symposium partly so those people can meet and have more extended conversations on things that are really important to publishing,” Middleton says.

For Middleton, it’s these connections that bring such a value to in-person events for all involved..

“Those kinds of one-on-ones, for me, [have] always been the core experience at an art book fair, that you get to actually have interesting conversations with the person who’s producing the thing that you’re holding in your hands and you get to hear their reason for making it,” he says.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun… it’s a chance to also find things that are really special for your bookshelves and things that you can keep and enjoy for a long time.”

For more information about the fair, visit https://2024.vancouverartbookfair.com