Sample Page – Unbound Art Book Fair

Exhibitor FAQ

What is RISD Unbound?

RISD UNBOUND is an art book fair at Rhode Island School of Design celebrating artists’ books, zines, and experimental printed matter created by RISD students and community, local artists and designers, as well as publishers, artists, designers, and print enthusiasts from across the region. Through exhibits and sales, UNBOUND seeks to inspire conversations around cultural publishing in the Providence community. RISD UNBOUND is free and open to the public!

Location + Parking + Arrival

The fair is located on the main floor of Fleet Library at RISD in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. The building entrance is at 15 Westminster Street.

Exhibitor tables are located in four places within the 1st floor: the Main Hallway, the RISD Library Living Room, the RISD Library Study Terrace, and the RISD Library Study Area behind the circulation desk. The Study Terrace is up a flight of stairs. The building is wheelchair accessible, and there is a staff-operated accessible lift in the Library that reaches the Study Terrace. There are gender-neutral, single-stall restrooms on the 1st floor, and men’s and women’s, stalled restrooms on the 2nd floor, each of which have one accessible stall.

Please consider wearing a mask to increase the accessibility of this event. We will have some masks available at the registration desk.

RISD parking lots will be available to exhibitors on a first-come first-serve basis. Please pick up a parking pass at the check-in table. Designated public parking lots and garages are located throughout downtown Providence. Metered street parking is also available throughout Providence. Rules and restrictions are posted on signs along the streets. The parking spaces in front of 15 Westminster Street will be reserved for unloading and loading on April 5 from 9:30–11am and 5–6pm. We will have volunteers available to watch your materials after unloading while you park your vehicle.

Please visit this link for more information about parking at RISD.

check-in

Please arrive between 9:30am and 10:30am for check-in. Visit the Unbound check-in table in the Main Hallway to receive your table location and welcome packet. You must check in by 10:50am. If you are running late, please contact us at risdunbound@risd.edu so that we know you are on your way. We will release your table at 10:50am if you have not checked in or contacted us.

set-up

You have been assigned either a half table or a full table for set-up. Full tables are approximately 6 feet long and 30 inches wide, making half tables approximately 3 feet long. Each full table will be set up with two chairs (unless you have requested additional chairs) and labeled with the exhibitor’s requested name (from the application).

Power outlets are not accessible from every table, so charge your devices! You may want to bring: tools, adhesives, pens, markers, power strips, tabletop display racks, tablecloths and decorations, etc. Exhibitors will not be able to mount works on walls. Please plan to fit your work and displays within the constraints of the table top. Due to fire codes, racks and items that do not fit on your tabletop are not allowed. Space under and behind the table can be used for your storage and supplies.

wifi & money-related matterS

Wifi will be available on-site. To make customer purchases easy, please consider preparing for a range of purchasing methods—cash, credit cards, Venmo, PayPal. Bring your own cash to make change, consider bringing a credit card purchasing system for your sales, and consider setting up a Venmo or PayPal account prior to the fair. Be sure to pack multiples of your work in case you sell more than anticipated! We discourage any exhibitors from closing early.

Wifi network: RISD-Unbound Password: R1SDis#1:

event schedule & Additional Events

The fair will be open to the public from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Additional Events Include:

Saturday, April 5, 12:00-2:00pm – Student Publishing Forum, 2nd Floor of Fleet Library. Visit RISD’s Center for Arts & Language for a Student Publishing Forum. Editors from RISD and Brown University student publications including v.1, desi-gned, Brown Film Magazine, SCALE, SOMOS, Sole Magazine, and College Hill Independent (The Indy) will be here to share back issues and talk with writers, illustrators, and designers about how to submit and get involved.
Saturday, April 5, 2:00-3:00pm – Artist Talk: Jon Key, RISD Graphic Design (GD) Commons. Jon Key (RISD ‘13 GD) is an artist, designer and writer originally from Seale, Alabama. He began his career at Grey Advertising before moving on to work with HBO, Nickelodeon, The Public Theater and the Whitney Museum. Key has taught at Maryland Institute College of Art, Parsons School of Design, California College of the Arts and currently teaches at Cooper Union, where he served as the Frank Staton Chair in Graphic Design in 2018-19. He is Co-Founder and Design Director at Codify Art, a multidisciplinary collective that creates, produces, supports and showcases work by artists of color, particularly women, queer and trans artists of color. Key was selected for Forbes’ 2020 30 Under 30 list. His work has been featured at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery NYC and the Armory Show, as well as in the New York Times, Washington Post and The Atlantic. (From: https://alumni.risd.edu/news-events/2020-Emerging-Leader-Award).
Saturday, April 5, 11am-5pm – Free Admission to RISD Museum! 20 N Main St. Visit the RISD Museum to explore their impressive collections and compelling exhibits. Show your RISD UNBOUND pamphlet / exhibitor map and get free entry for the day.

clean-up

Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning up their own tables. Clean-up will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Please be sure to have your space cleared and any boxes or supplies out of the building before 6:00pm. Trash receptacles will be available on-site.

food

The fair is conveniently located in the same building as RISD’s Portfolio Cafe where meals, snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. Portfolio Café is offering a food package at a reduced rate for fair exhibitors and attendees. The $8 UNBOUND Special includes 1 burrito (meat or vegetarian), a small bag of chips, and 1 fountain beverage. Top allergens for menu items are identified per item on the online menus. Signs also note if an item is vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten-free. Kitchen managers and supervisors can answer ingredient questions and assist you while you are in Dining venues. The Met and Portfolio Café are peanut- and tree nut-free. Other dining options are located throughout downtown Providence.

Water fountains and a water station are available in the building – bring your reusable water bottle!

social media

Help us spread the good word about UNBOUND and share the event with others on social media. Make sure to tag all your posts: #RisdUnbound2025

policies & disclaimers

Per RISD policy, only service animals are allowed in the library. Emotional support animals are not permitted. RISD UNBOUND reserves the right to refuse the application and/or participation of any person or company for any reason. RISD UNBOUND does not assume any responsibility or obligation to provide financial or other assistance, including, but not limited to medical, health, or disability insurance in the event of injury, illness, death, or property damage, resulting from participation in the event.

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