Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual art book fair, Focal Point, invites visitors to engage with a diverse range of local and international self-publishers, bookmakers, and cultural producers.
Returning for its seventh edition, the three-day fair runs from November 22 to 24, 2024, at Bait Obaid Al Shamsi from 5pm to 10pm. It features an eclectic selection of printed materials by artists’ presses, self-publishers, and non-commercial cultural producers pushing the boundaries of publishing.
Workshops on sketching, writing, and zine-making complement talks, readings, and presentations focused on publications created by the Foundation and participants. Visitors can also enjoy a live zine-making station and purchase refreshments from venue stalls.
This year’s highlights include the launch of Corniche, Sharjah Art Foundation’s sixth annual comic anthology, with opportunities to meet contributing illustrators. A key session features Zeynep Öz, a curator for Sharjah Biennial 16, and designer Okay Karadayılar discussing their collaboration on YAZ Publications’ 13-book series.
On the final day, meet-and-greet events with publishers like Dongola Limited Editions and Hopscotch Reading Room will take place. Additionally, cultural leaders and artists will showcase curated publications from their ecosystems.
