Focal Point 2024: Sharjah’s art book fair celebrates creativity and publishing

Sharjah : 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.
Admission is free, but prior registration is required. Secure your spot at sharjahart.org.