Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Between 1982 and 1995, Book Fairs were held; ten annually from 1982 to 1991 and two biannually in 1993 and 1995. They were organised through the alliance of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, New Beacon Books and Race Today Publications. The grouping became known as 'The Alliance'. They described the Fairs as, 'A meeting of the continents for writers, publishers, distributors, booksellers, artists, musicians, film makers, and the people who inspire and consume their creative productions.' Over six thousand people attended the first one.
The first three Fairs took place in the areas of London where each organisation was based; Islington, Lambeth and Acton. The Camden Centre, Islington LB, became the permanent home of the Fairs thereafter. Events were organised in Manchester, Bradford and Leeds from 1985 and in 1993 and 1995 Glasgow was added to these locations. In 1987 and 1988 a sister event was held in Trinidad by the Trinidad Oilfields Workers Trade Union. This was called 'The Caribbean Peoples International Bookfair and Bookfair Festival'. The fair took place over three days but additional events were organised throughout 'The International Book Fair Festival Week'.
John La Rose of New Beacon Books and Jessica Huntley of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications were joint Directors of the first four, until 1984. Committee members for the first were Eric Huntley, Sarah White, Steve Lewis, Darcus Howe, Lelia Hassan, Lorine Stapleton and Irma La Rose. John La Rose became the sole director in 1985. Bogle-L'Ouverture continued to be involved as an organiser until the 8th Fair in 1989.
The Fairs brought together publishers, political activists and artists from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, North America and Europe to a forum where ideas were exchanged and work was show cased. Literature, politics, music, art, and social life were all an intrinsic part of the Fairs. The Programmes included plays, film screenings, prose and poetry readings, debates and musical concerts. Audiences of five hundred or more attended many of the events.
First: 1-3 April 1982. Islington Town Hall, Islington
Second: 17-19 March 1983. Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton, Lambeth
Third: 5-7 April 1984. Acton Town Hall, Acton
Fourth: 21-23 March 1985. The Camden Centre, London; Manchester Book Exhibition and Festival: 7-10 March; Bradford Book Exhibition and Festival: 28-31 March
Fifth: 6-8 March 1986. The Camden Centre, Islington
Sixth: 26-28 March 1987. The Camden Centre, Islington
Seventh: 17-19 March 1988. The Camden Centre, Islington
Eighth: 9-11 March 1989. The Camden Centre, Islington; Manchester: 2nd-4 March; Bradford: 16-18 March
Ninth: 22-24 March 1990. The Camden Centre, London; Bradford Book Fair: 28-30 March 1990. Bradford Community Centre; Manchester Book Fair: 17 March 1990. Manchester Town Hall
Tenth: 7-9 March 1991. Camden Centre, London; Manchester: 1 March. Manchester Town Hall; Bradford: 14-16 March. Bradford Community Arts Centre
Eleventh: 25-27 March 1993. The Camden Centre, London. Leeds and Bradford: 19-21 March; The First Scottish Book Fair: 1-3 April. Glasgow
Twelfth: 23-25 March, 1995 at the Camden Centre, London; Leeds and Bradford: 16-19 March. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds; Manchester: 10-12 March at the Nia Centre, Manchester; The 2nd Scottish Book Fair: 30 March-1 April at Patrick Burgh Hall, Glasgow.