Why an anarchist bookfair in Biel?
Whereas more and more anarchist bookfairs are being held all over the world, things have remained conspiciously calm in German-speaking countries. In February 2009 the first such event took place in Winterthur in Switzerland. The success of this book convention almost compels a continuation, but there is one thing missing in Winterthur, that would make another place more suitable: The event should not only attract German-speaking visitors and offerers, but also those from French- and Italian-speaking regions. Being the largest bilingual city in Switzerland, Biel/Bienne offers a fertile ground. This is just one good reason: situated at the foot of where the legendary Fédération Jurassien was seated, the anarchist tradition lives on in Biel today: despite the 55'000 inhabitants, there are squats, an autonomous youth centre with an over 40 year old history, the „Chat Noir“ being one of the very few anarchist infokiosks, a self-governing popular kitchen with daily hot meals, an autonomous print office... What’s more the city has been a popular meeting point for anarchists from all over the country due to ist advantageous geographical location. In a nutshell: An ideal place for an anarchist book convention!
What will be offered
The book convention will be held from Saturday the 15th to Sunday the 16th of May at the "Coupole". There were about 30 exhibitors from anarchist medias present last year in Winterthur; we hope to welcome many more this year. You will find on this website a constantly reactualized list of all participants.Furthermore, there will be different spots in Biel/Bienne to organize other types of events such as exhibitions, discussions, film projections, art, public readings, conferences, debates, presentations, workshops... A part of these events will be organized by us but we are also dependant of our visitors personal initiatives. If you have an idea, feel free to sign up on this website. The complete program will be published at the beginning of April. There will be a concert on Saturday night. The line-up will be made public at the beginning of the year.
What is a libertarian book convention?
During the early 1980’s, under the impression of a so-called socialist, yet tedious and expensive book convention that was frequented by many major publishing houses, a desire to realise such an event of their own emerged among a few Londoner anarchists. The attributes –anarchist or – libertarian in the rapidly established bookfair referred on one hand to the publishing programmes offered and on the other hand to a certain notion of how the event should look like. The aim was not only to sell as many books as possible and to awaken peoples interest in anarchism, but to create a platform for activists and a variety of further cultural events. specifically anarchistic conceptions that emphasise on individual freedom should furthermore be lived at the book convention: racism, sexism, homophobia etc. were banned from the event. A great value, however, was set on the do-it-yourself-attitude of the visitors and providers, as well as on solidarity and on structures for grassroots democratical decision-making. The first anarchist bookfair was not exactly a big success: merely half a dozen offerers attended the event, and since there weren’t scarcely any visitors, the attendees turned the bookfair into a pool-tournament. But the enthusiasm did not abandon them, the event became more and more prominent year after year, attracted more libertarian publishing houses and visitors and continually increased in size and variety. The book convention became so popular over the years, that it will be taking place for the 28th time this year. The hosts reckon thus free from humility, that it is the largest and most important regularily realised anarchistic event in the world. The numbers are indeed quite impressive. 100 bookstands, 40 programmes and around 3000 visitors on each convention day. But the times in which the „Anarchist-Bookfair“ was the single event of its kind are long forgotten, so that ist organisers have started to emphasise on the appendix „of London“. In Great Britain alone, numerous anarchistic bookfairs have been launched in recent years. In Canada and the USA, one is spoilt for choice as a literarily intrigued anarchist – between springtime and autumn there is barely a weekend on which no anarchistic book convention is taking place. in Latin America too, where anarchistic bookshops and libraries have a long tradition, there have been several attempts in recent years, like for example in Monterrey (Mexico) and Sao Paulo (Brasil). Eventually there has been a movein this direction on the European Continent too: Since 2003 the „Balkan Anarchist Bookfair“ takes place every two years (2003 in Ljubljana (Slowenia), 2005 in Zagreb (Croatia), 2008 in Sofia (Bulgaria); Likewise in Eastern Europe the „Anarchistic ki sajam knijia“ in Zagreb and an anarchistic book convention in Poznan (Poland) take place yearly. In Western Europe our Spanish associates, who regularily organise „ferias del libro anarquista“ in different cities (Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Valencia), stand out most notably. But also in Paris, Gent, Florence, Lissabon and Dublin, correlative events have taken place. The concepts have hardly changed over the years, although the programmes have broadened massively. Many events are bookfairs, cabarets, course of lectures, culture days, movie cycles and meeting points in one.
Donations are always welcome:
Verein für libertäre Kultur - VlK
8400 Winterthur
Account 85-592036-2
Annotation: Bookfair 2010
IBAN CH66 0900 0000 8559 2036 2
BIC POFICHBEXXX
