Art Book Fair returns to Vancouver for weekend
Posted July 4, 2025 2:35 pm.
Last Updated July 4, 2025 2:36 pm.
From small-run photocopied DIY zines to elaborately-printed and bound museum catalogues, they all can be seen at the Vancouver Art Book Fair (VABF), returning Friday evening.
With nearly 100 exhibitors from across the country and beyond, it’s the longest-running event of its kind in Canada.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Jonathan Middleton, co-manager of VABF, says the event offers more than a trip to the bookstore.
“You get to walk up to a table and speak to the artist who sometimes handcrafted that thing. So that’s an amazing part of it, on top of the talks and other events that we have going on,” said Middleton.
The type of books featured, he says, are generally artworks in and of themselves.
“It’s kind of like a sculpture and a photo; an exhibition and a touring package, all in one,” said Middleton.
He says the event is a chance to engage with material that really can’t be seen anywhere else, and certainly not all at once.
“A lot of the books don’t receive normal distribution. You won’t find it at Chapters, Indigo, or even some independent bookstores.”
The exhibition hall at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in Yaletown will open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.
It continues from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Roundtables, talks, and workshops will also run throughout the weekend. A full schedule can be found on the Vancouver Art Book Fair website.
