New Artists' Book Fair in Wales! We are starting an annual artists' book event in Newtown for artists to sell their work. We are starting small with only 20 tables, so get your request in early! This inaugural fair will be running over the weekend of September 2/3 and will include some demonstrations and workshops.

Wales and the borders have many wonderful book artists and we want to give them the opportunity to showcase their work as well as artists from further afield.  We also want to encourage more visitors to the area to find out about what book art is and get involved in the creative process and all the possibilities that artists' books can be! This opportunity is supported by the Cultural Freelancers Wales fund.

About the Venue

The Wales Artists' Book Fair Llyfr Artistiad Cymru will be upstairs at Hafon yr Avon in Newtown. Hafon yr Avon is a new community centre located on the bank of the river Severn, next to the Back Lane car park. It is a green and welcoming gateway to Wales and next to the Oriel Davies Gallery, where we will have space to host workshops. The room is spacious and has disability access and is family and dog friendly. There will be places to relax and a balcony overlooking the park.

https://opennewtown.org.uk/hafan-yr-afon/

This year the event will coincide with the Newtown Food Festival which will take place around the town hall grounds next to the venue! So this will ensure a good crowd for the fair.

https://www.newtownfoodfestival.org.uk/home

Criteria

This new Artists' Book Fair will be open to individual artists, groups and small publishers who create high-quality artists' books or zines using printmaking, textile or paper-based techniques. We will not accept mass-produced published works as we want to champion the art of the handmade book. 

Please fill out the online application form with as many details as possible. Any social media links are welcome to view your work.

Successful applicants will sell their work directly to the public with no commission fees. There will be workshops and demonstration opportunities, so please let me know if you would like to take part. Details will follow for the successful applicants.

Stand plan and prices

There will be 20 tables available, all evenly placed around the room. Some will have wall space behind, let me know if you need extra space. The tables are small at 160 x 60 cm so keep this in mind when thinking about the display. Tables are only £20 per pitch.

Publicity

We will be printing leaflets which I will send out to you and distribute locally, as well as banners and posters for the local area. I will make a small map/catalogue about all the exhibitors which be given to visitors when they arrive. 

We will contact local and national papers with the event and advertise in the Artists' Book Newsletter and other arts publications. And of course, we will be inundating the social media strands with the event and sending the successful applicants the links.

Application procedure

Please fill out the application form and please read all the terms and conditions. Successful applicants will be notified shortly after the deadline and they will be instructed to pay by BACS or cheque. An invoice will be sent with the bank details.

4 weeks before the event we will send out any other information you need as to directions, access needs and any other details.

On arrival, you will also receive an info pack with exhibitor badges, local event info and a ticket for free tea/coffee and cake.

Fair dates and times

Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd of September 2023 

Artist arrival 9am - 9:30am to set up

Fair open to the public from 10am to 4pm

Sunday take down 4pm - 5pm

For any other questions contact the curator Amy Sterly via Curatorspace.