Overview
Focal Point is an annual art book fair showcasing independent bookmaking from the region and around the world. Audiences will find a compelling selection of printed material by artists’ presses, bookmakers, self-publishers and non-commercial cultural producers on offer. Committed to expanding and experimenting with the medium of publishing, the fair includes talks, book launches, artists’ signings, workshops, music and artist-made products.
An initiative of Sharjah Art Foundation, Focal Point places a special focus on UAE-based publishers and functions as a critical space for knowledge sharing and community building.
International
This section brings together art and independent publishers from around the world to showcase and distribute their books in our community.
Atelier HOKO (Singapore), Bakwa Books (Yaoundé), Bananafish Books (Shanghai), Cairo Art Book Fair (Cairo), Central Tunis (Tunis), Further Reading Press (Jakarta), Gato Negro Ediciones (Mexico City), ist publishing (Kyiv), Kawkab ElRasameen (Cairo), Arctic Art Book Fair / Mondo Books (Tromsø), Offset Projects India (New Delhi), Prameya Art Foundation (New Delhi), RAW Materials Company (Dakar), Rab-Rab Press (Helsinki), Rawdah Print (Jeddah), Reliable Copy (Bangalore), Tanger Print Club (Tangiers), Tara Books (Chennai), The Mosaic Rooms Bookshop (London), mediabus - book society (Seoul), The 9th Art (Cairo), Water with Water (Doha)
Edit
This section presents a curated selection of art journals, magazines, artist books, comics and special interest books not distributed by local retailers and bookstores.
Al Nahda Al Arabia Library (Baghdad), Arts of the Working Class (Berlin), Backbone Books (Berlin), Book Works (London), Cafè Royal books (Southport, UK), Darat Al Funun (Amman), dpr-barcelona (Barcelona), Editions Jojo (Mumbai), Errant Bodies Press (Berlin), Fanzeen Comics (Amman), Half Letter Press / Temporary Service (Chicago), Happy Potato Press (Berlin), Hangar Artistic Research (Lisbon), Idea Books (Amsterdam), Iwalewa Books (Lagos), Kaph Books (Beirut), Kayfa-Ta (Amman/Cairo), Khalid Komics (Amman), Kulte Editions (Rabat), Kyklada Press (Athens), MIT Press, Maamoul Press (Michigan), Misk Art Institute / Rizzoli: The Art Library (Riyadh), Mizna (Saint Pauls, Minnesota), Moleskin Foundation (Milan), Moniker Press (Vancouver), Mousse Publishing (Milan), Observatoire Atelier (Casablanca), Shortt Editions (Florida), SSAF (Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation) / Tulika Books (New Delhi), The Funambulist (Paris), Ugly Duckling Presse (New York), Well Gedacht Publishing (Berlin / Vienna), Zaman books & Curating (Paris)
Local
This section consists of books made by the local arts community—cultural institutions, galleries, publishers and non-profit government cultural entities—as well as printed matter, illustrations, zines, comics, photography, stationery and screen printing produced by independent artists.
Cultural Institutions
Art Jameel, Hobb, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, The Africa Institute
Art Publishers
Sharjah Art Foundation, Al Qasimi Publications, Barjeel Art Foundation, Carbon 12, Department of Culture Sharjah, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Gulf Photo Plus, Kalimat Foundation, Kalimat Group, Lawrie Shabibi, Maraya Art Centre – 1971 Design Space, NYUAD Art Gallery, Sharjah Museums, Tashkeel, The Third Line, Warehouse421
Artists
Abdulla AlNeyadi, Alia Al Hammadi, Ameena Alnuaimi, Amna Al Saleh, Bayan Samman, catsdraws, Dima Abou Zannad, Dima Bittard, Eezee Doodles, Eman AlRaeesi, Esraa R. Store, Fatma AlZarooni, Hari, Hessa Almarzooqi, Hessa Alzarooni, Hrag Kazanjian, Jehan Ali, Kamal - AnalogTheRoom, Khalid Mezaina, Lubna Aziz, Maha Moustafa, Maitha Al Omaira, Mariam Mohamed, Mohammed Alhussaini, Morvarid Daryayi, Nahla Tabbaa, Nasir Nasrallah, Nora Zeid, Qamise, Rasamett, Sana Haroon, Sara AlKhayyal, Shadah.ae, Shoug AlHelo, Thalath x Mouza Al Hamrani, Yesmin Choutri