© Andrius Staniulis / Matas Gineika
“Kaunas Art Book Fair” (KABF) is a value-creating and networking event, held annually since 2019 in City of Design Kaunas, Lithuania. It focuses exclusively on the culture of art book publishing, the creation of a new community, the support of the existing one and the initiation of global trends in Lithuania. The programme of the fair consists of three parts: 1) an art book fair; 2) educational/public programme for children and adults; 3) art book exhibition. It is the only professionally organised annual art publication event in the Baltic states, organised by Kaunas Photography Gallery.
For its 6th edition in September 2024, KABF is delighted to announce an open call for UNESCO Cities of Design to become part of an upcoming Best Art Book Design exhibition that will accompany the fair. The concept of the book exhibition is to offer valuable recognition and exposure for art books from Cities of Design that are exceptional and distinguished in terms of their design and push the boundaries of design perception. Despite cultural differences in art book production, this exhibition is an attempt to compare the technical and aesthetic level of art books beyond the border of Lithuania. The aim is for mental and creative stimulation for participators and visitors of the fair inspired by international exchange.
Cities of Design can participate by submitting one publication in an online form and sending a physical copy of proposed publication. NOTE: Only books that have previously been judged and awarded prizes by expert juries in their home countries are evaluated. Both new works (published in the past twelve months) and earlier released works that deserve a second time to shine for a new international audience, are accepted.
Selected publications will be shortlisted and exhibited at Kaunas Photography Gallery during Kaunas Art Book Fair 2024 in September.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Please send one physical copy of the publication, which will be for display in the exhibition and will later be kept by the Kaunas Photography Gallery library. Publications are not returned to the applicants.
- A second copy of the publication can be sent. In this case, it will be for sale during the fair. If the book is not sold during the fair, it will go to the Kaunas Photography Gallery bookstore for further sale. The money from the sale of the book (100% of the amount) will be sent to the applicants. The organisers do not guarantee that the publication will sell quickly.
Kaunas Art Book Fair aims to create a public that understands the value of an art book and an active community of designers, artists and publishers. The aim is that art publications should not only be appreciated by a narrow circle of people interested in art and culture, but that art books should be added to the home libraries of a wider audience, and that designers, artists and publishers should discover new audiences and broaden their readership. Also, for the art book to educate and broaden the worldview of the readers, for the subtleties of book publishing (design, printing, binding, choice of paper, etc.) to be addressed, for the community of art book authors and publishers from different disciplines to come together and share their experiences.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 MAY
C O N T A C T