International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair at The Tetley

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Visit now

International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair

3-4 March 2018

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair. Photo by Jules Lister.
International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair. Photo by Jules Lister.
Book now

Like books? Like art? You’ve come to the right place! This weekend-long fair is an art-and-book-lover’s playground, with over 50 stalls purveying the finest in artistically oriented tomes. Setting up shop are independent publishers from around the UK and beyond these shores, plus international art collectives, such as the whnicPRESS imprint, and even individual artists themselves.

Yes, it’s the return of the world-renowned International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair – the longest-running artists’ book fair outside London. And as well as providing the perfect opportunity for picking up the latest in artist books, the Fair lets you meet and chat to artists, makers and writers about their process. Who knows, you might even unearth an original artwork or two to make off with.

The Fair marks its 21st anniversary this year, building on humble beginnings in Halifax, so they’ll be cracking open the party poppers and celebrating with soon-to-be-revealed events, including talks and live performances. Since 1997, the Fair has attracted national and international interest, welcoming thousands of visitors to various venues, including at The Tetley, where it is now in its fifth year.

The event is co-curated with PAGES, a Leeds-based audience engagement agency offering an integrated programme of artists’ book-related initiatives. For this year’s Fair, the PAGES team is co-ordinating the appearance of disability arts project Shoddy, along with paperscissorsbook, a touring exhibition showcasing some of the best UK and international artists currently working with paper and the book format today.

Also represented this year and worth sniffing out is Longbarrow Press, which curates artist/poet collaborations and publishes poetry collections, from traditionally produced hardbacks to handmade editions.

On Saturday, the Fair runs 11am until 5pm and, on Sunday, 11am until 4pm. It coincides with The Hepworth Wakefield’s Print Fair, so schedule in both for an art-filled weekend. Definitely looks good on paper!

What's on at The Tetley

Where to go near International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair at The Tetley

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Leeds Discovery Centre
Leeds
Museum
Leeds Discovery Centre

Home to over one million fascinating objects, Leeds Discovery Centre offers a richly eclectic window into the natural world and human history.

Leeds
Tourist Attraction
Leeds Dock

Leeds Dock is a creative waterside village, home to a vast number of businesses and shops.

Leeds
Museum
The Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds is home to the national collection of arms and armour, set in Leeds Dock, just a short walk from Leeds city centre.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

Leeds
Restaurant
Sheaf Street Cafeteria

Part of the effortlessly cool Duke Studios, Sheaf Street offers all kinds of interesting food and drink plus events and resident DJs.

Jurys Inn Leeds
Leeds
Hotel
Leonardo Hotel

At the Leonardo Hotel Leeds they aim to make your stay exceptional. It starts as soon as you step inside the hotel, from the welcoming bar atmosphere and comfortable Costa

The Tetley Bar and Kitchen
Leeds
Restaurant
The Tetley Bar and Kitchen

The Tetley Bar and Kitchen is a British restaurant based in the heart of Leeds, where all proceeds go towards supporting the venue’s artistic programme.

The Adelphi Leeds
Leeds
Restaurant
The Adelphi Leeds

Old Victorian pub, decked out with wood panelling and old tiling, specialising in real ale and quality pub food.

Leeds
Event venue
Salem Chapel, Leeds

Salem Chapel is a multipurpose venue for conferences, exhibitions, meetings and training days in Leeds. 

LEEDS MINSTER
Leeds
Place of worship
Leeds Minster

Leeds Minster is a building rich in history and heritage. Explore the space, light a votive candle or listen to the famous organ when you visit.

What's on: Literature

LiteratureManchester
Nikita Gill at Feel Good Club

Enter the Underworld with internationally bestselling poet Nikita Gill as she discusses her “propulsive, electrifying and enraging” new book Hekate.

From £18.99
Dan Coxon.
LiteratureLiverpool
Writing The Magic launch at Dead Ink Bookshop

Writing the Magic (Essays on Crafting Fantasy Fiction) is the fourth in Liverpool-based publisher Dead Ink Books’ award-winning series of guides, and this launch event hears from editor Dan Coxon.

From £5.00
LiteratureManchester
Manchester Poets at Chorlton Library

This autumn Manchester Poets returns to its usual home of Chorlton Library, following its exile to Withington while renovations took place at the Carnegie HQ.

Free entry
LiteratureCalder Valley
Arvon’s Story House at Lumb Bank

We just celebrated former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes’s birthday in the town of his birth, now head to his former home Lumb Bank for Arvon’s Story House.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Exhibitions in the North

Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Wisp Press Image
Music in the North

From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.