Following the successful participation of Spain’s Libros Mutantes in the New York fair, Shannon Cane, curator of LA Art Book Fair, has proposed Spain as guest country at the 2016 edition in Los Angeles. It will be the first country to have a Focus Room dedicated especially to it and, as the first to take part in this section of the fair, it will enjoy a particularly prominent role. This status of guest country will enable it to showcase the best of Spanish independent publishing in recent years. Furthermore, this is the first time such a broad selection of Spanish publications is travelling abroad. During the days the fair runs, small-scale activities will be held, such as presentations of publications included in the selection, and book signings.
The Focus Room will give a boost to the work of independent Spanish publishers – a sector that has undergone a major creative transformation in recent years. Taking part in an event of this kind will help Spanish publishers achieve greater visibility, as well as encouraging a stimulating exchange of creative and professional content between sector professionals (publishers, artists, illustrators and translators). All this will furthermore help bolster the presence of independent Spanish publishing in the United States – a step that is necessary in order to improve aspects of the sale and distribution of publications in the country.
La Casa Encendida and the Libros Mutantes group, co-organisers of the Libros Mutantes independent publishing fair, have set up the website www.librosmutantes.com with the aim of making it an international name in independent self-publishing with a particular focus on Spanish publications.