Initiated in 2015 by Print and Photography staff at the Slade School of Fine Art and the UCL Art Librarian, the Small Press Project is an annual event inspired by the Little Magazines, Alternative Press & Poetry Store Collections held at UCL and encompasses a one-day symposium, a publication project, an exhibition and a mini artists’ book fair. Utilizing material from the collection, specifically experimental literature, visual art and countercultural topics, the project aims to explore cross-disciplinary research across print, photography and publishing practices.

The UCL Special Collections hold one of the most significant collections of independently published magazines, newspapers and pamphlets in the world, containing influential artists’ publications dating from the mid 19th century to the present day, many of which reflect the social, political, and cultural context of printing and publishing as well as the evolution and development of the artists’ book as a method of making. Using the collection as a starting point, the Small Press Project provides an open forum to examine and re-examine the status of contemporary independent publications, how it can be used as a teaching tool and influence the ways in which we make or re-make publications today.

The mechanical act of copying lies at the heart of publishing and this year the project looks towards this as a means through which to discuss the wider issues of ‘the copy’; reproduction, the reprint, the economics of production, translation, language, collaboration, appropriation, transformation, imitation, camouflage, as repetition and difference, forgery, masquerading, piracy and plagiarism, montage, cut and paste cultures, commodity fetishism and collecting.

The event brings together educational institutions, small press artists, publishers, distributors and researchers in London to discuss ‘the copy’ within the independent publishing movement and includes a mini artists’ book fair providing a unique opportunity to buy some artists’ publications within the context of the history of the medium. A selection of works from the Small Press Collections held by UCL Special Collections will also be on display during the event.

The Small Press Project coincides with an exhibition of publications inspired by the UCL Collection made by students and staff at the Slade School of Fine Art. The exhibition will run from 26^th April – 28^th April in the North Lodge and will be open between 10.30am  - 5.00pm.

Schedule

10.30               Doors open
11.00               Clive Phillpot in conversation with UCL Art Librarian, Elizabeth Lawes        12.00               Sharon Morris
13.00               Refrain by Hannah Dalgreave-Leafe will be on show during the lunch break
14.00               Arnaud Desjardin
15.00               Eleanor Von Browne
16.00               Private View - Small Press Project Exhibition

Speakers/participants

Clive Phillpot
RCA students
Camberwell School of Art
Tamsin Clark, Tenderbooks
Elizabeth Lawes, UCL Small Press Collections
Ami Clarke, Banner Repeater
Fraser Muggeridge
Eleanor Von Browne
Sharon Morris, UCL
Aron Morel, Morel Books
CSM students
Arnaud Desjardin

Venue

The event takes place from 10am – 4pm, on Thursday 27 April 2017.
Institute of Advanced Studies
South Wing
UCL
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT