The Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA) is a registered non-profit arts society with a socially-conscious mandate that is committed to fostering the awareness and development of independent small press ventures in Canada and beyond. The ESPA recognizes that the small press movement is a global phenomenon and we are proud to be a part of introducing small press initiatives to the masses.
What is Small Press? Although the term 'small press' usually applies only to projects of a printed or 'self-published' nature (e.g.: 'zines'), the ESPA defines 'small press' as almost any independent creative venture that includes the 'documentation' of visual media, literature, photography, web-based/media arts, or any combination thereof. We also encourage film/video and musical/performance projects, as we recognize both the importance of these mediums as viable cultural expressions, and the similarities between independently 'publishing' books and independently 'publishing' music, film and videos.
We are a resource network for independent producers from all walks of life and skill levels, fostering the "D.I.Y or Die" philosophy (do-it-yourself) and we recognize no cultural or professional boundaries: We believe anyone can be creative and have a voice. We are independent media and arts-activists working under a community cultural development disposition, and actively encourage the development and dissemination of independent small press ventures on a global level. Although we won't publish your projects for you, we do support independent creators by offering access to technical equipment, networking opportunities, and other resources.
Our mottos are "People before Profits, Collaboration before Competition" and
See our Operational Activities page at left for more info and to download our 2003-2006 Annual Reports in PDF format.
