Singapore Art Book Fair 2026 drops ‘Walking Exhibitor’ open call after backlash

Organisers had described the initiative as an attempt to “soften spatial hierarchies and extend book-based interactions beyond the tabletop”, adding that it aimed to make the fair “less of a marketplace and more a field of encounter”.

However, the announcement quickly sparked debate online, with many questioning the cost and structure of the scheme. 

“Expecting newbies to do that for two days for seven hours minimum, not including the time to prep, print and find manpower [or] transport, and then saying it’s to make things more equal doesn’t feel right,” one commenter wrote, calling the option “the most physically taxing” one and instead suggesting smaller or shared tables for first-timers.

Others raised accessibility concerns. One commenter noted that there are “artists who have issues walking [or] standing for prolonged periods of time due to injuries or other medical conditions”.