Every year the anarchist movement has its biggest get-together at the London Anarchist Bookfair at the end of October. But there’s a lot of similar events going on between now and then, and we’ve done a roundup below so you’re never short of a book or two.
April 29th: Cambridge Radical Bookfair
Venue: Portland Arms, 129 Chesterton Road, CB4 3BA
1pm-5pm
Stalls from the likes of East Anglian anti-fascists, Cambridge SolFed, PM Press and Freedom Fibres. Talks announced so far include ground breaking undercover investigator, hunt sab and author of Outfoxed Mike Huskisson, DIT Collective with more TBA. Keep up with what’s being announced here.
May 13th: Nottingham Radical Bookfair
Venue: Nottingham Mechanics, South Sherwood Street
11am-5.30pm
This will be the first Nottingham-based bookfair of modern times, backed by the city’s radical Five Leaves Bookshop. More details tbc, contact bookshop (at) fiveleaves.co.uk
May 20th: Sheffield Anarchist Bookfair
Venue: Showroom & Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row
10am-6pm
The Sheffield bookfair is one of the longer-running around Britain, with this being its eighth year of hosting a wide range of stalls, talks and film screenings. Details and audio of some meetings from previous years can be found in their archive here.
Further details TBA, keep an eye on their website.
Info on rates and an application form can be found at the bookfair’s “For vendors, groups & activists” page. To get in touch email sheffield@bookfair.org.uk.
June 3rd: Anarchy By The Sea Bookfair (Dorset)
Venue: Portfield Community Hall, Portfield Road, Christchurch BH23 2AQ
10.30am-5.30pm
Organisers say this is the first anarchist bookfair in town (as far as they know), points if you know better! Stalls, meetings, films, food, refreshments and even a kids’ area. Followed by an afterparty from 7pm with live music and bar — £5 donation or less if you’re skint.
June 24th: London Radical Bookfair
Venue: Goldsmiths University, New Cross
Organised by the Alliance for Radical Booksellers and featuring the annual Bread and Roses award for radical literature, the London Radical Bookfair is fast becoming a fixture in the activist summer calendar.
More info to follow, updating on their Facebook page. For enquiries email Cristina at cristina[at]housmans[dot]com
Autumn: Dublin Anarchist Bookfair
Now in its 12th year, WSM folks say it’ll be sometime in Autumn if it happens. Organised by the Workers Solidarity Movement, keep an eye out for their updates.
September 16th: Bristol Anarchist Bookfair
Organisers have confirmed that Bristol will be having a bookfair this year, with lots of details coming soom. Email bristolanarchistbookfair@riseup.net for enquiries or to get involved
October 28th: London Anarchist Bookfair
Venue: Park View School, West Green Road, N15 3Q
Booking forms for stalls, meetings and inclusion in the programme are being sent out around the beginning of May. Email mail [@] anarchistbookfair.org.uk if you want a copy of the booking form or leaflets.The biggest gathering of anarchists in Britain and always full of fascinating talks, workshops and of course more books than you can shake a red and black stick at. Many smaller publishers including Freedom launch their latest titles on the day.
For updates, check their website and Facebook pages.
December?: Manchester & Salford Anarchist Bookfair
Details TBA, keep an eye on their Facebook page. For enquiries, email manchester@bookfair.org.uk.
Will they/won’t they
Norwich: Happened in August last year, the organisers feel it went well and are hoping to do it again in 2017 but no details as yet. 2016 event here.
Bradford: The 1in12 Club doesn’t always do Bookfairs, but when it does they’re interesting. Last time was September 2014
Belfast: Usually held around mid-October but nothing announced yet, updates here.
Done
January 28th: Derry Radical Bookfair
Venue: Pilots Row Community Centre, Rossville Street
Pronounced a huge success, check out their report and photos at https://derryradicalbookfair.wordpress.com
February 18th: Cardiff Anarchist Bookfair
Venue: Cathays Youth & Community Centre, 36 Cathays Terrace
Contact: cardiffanarchistbookfair@riseup.net. Previous facebook event
April 1st: Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair
Venue: The Black-E, 1 Great George Street
Local stalls from 15 different groups including Solfed, hunt sabs and the anti-fascist network, plus afterparty. Workshops on anarchism and media, organising at work, prison solidarity, Facebook page
Have we missed you out? Get in touch with us via editor@freedompress.org.uk or @freedom_paper. For a listing of bookfairs worldwide, check out the anarchist bookfairs blog.
