Offprint Paris, a free trade fair that celebrates independent publishing

Do you know the portmanteau word “Galligrasseuil”? He designates the three big French publishing houses – Gallimard, Grasset, Le Seuil – and their hegemony over the world of letters. Hegemony, really? Because if the Goncourt prize was actually awarded to an author published by Gallimard (Kamel Daoud, for his novel Houris), l’independent publishing and his paper troublemakers have never been so well!

Proof of this is, from November 7 to 10, Arsenal Pavilion in the 4^e arrondissement, which hosts the new edition of the Offprint Paris trade show. Several dozen independent publishers meet there to offer their latest productions : novels, essays and poetry of course, but also artists’ books, children’s books, prints, magazines, fanzines, posters, objects of all kinds…

Various exhibitors

Among the list of exhibitors we find the publications of major international institutionssuch as Lafayette Anticipations, the Venice Biennale, the École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL) and even Columbia University. But also little-known findssuch as Rien ne va plus (art books), Local History Club (photography) or Poiesis Publishers (poetry).

To this large market in which you can wander freely and for free, there is also a activity program spread over the four days of the show. With numerous signatures books, but also happenings or even discussions in the auditorium… All, once again free.

A free exhibition

Finally, let’s point out the current exhibition at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal: “Paris, the metropolis and its projects” invites you to discover over more than 1 000 documents (plans, photographs, films, archives) the Greater Paris projects, already out of the ground but also to come. An exciting journey, to be seen until November 17.