Archive: Workshops at the 2009 London Zine Symposium
This year we have more workshops, talks and walks than ever. Below are those announced so far. Details of others will be announced soon along with times and room details.
Back from the archive – the importance of zine libraries
Informal discussion with Q&A session – large workshop room: 12.30pm
How do you maintain an effective zine library – something by it’s very underground nature is difficult to classify or catalogue? At the same time, zine libraries provide a fascinating resource, both for today’s and future zinesters. Chris from South London’s 56a Infoshop and Mathias from Barcelona Zine Library will talk about their reasons for keeping zine libraries and how they went about this daunting task. You’ll also be able to get blueprints of the Barcelona Zine Libraries ingenious, portable zine library.
Keep the paper flowing – the rise of the zine festival
Panel discussion with Q&A from the audience – large workshop room: 1.30pm
Over the past few years there seems to be a new tide of excitement around zines, with a big growth in zines, festivals and other events. Find out how the scene has grown and changed, future challenges and learn some top tips for putting on your own zine event. Speakers include Alex Wrekk (Portland Zine Symposium, Brainscan) Natalie (London Zine Symposium, Last Hours, Bicycle Clips), Edd Mujinga (Brighton Zinefest) and Jimi Gherkin (Alternative Press Fair) with the panel discussion chaired by Chris Lever (Lipgloss zine).
Alternative visions – comics, zines and politics since the 1970s
A talk followed by questions with zinesters and then a Q&A – large workshop room: 2.30pm
Roger Sabin and Teal Triggs (authors of ‘Below critical radar: fanzines and alternative comix from 1976 to now’) are giving a talk about zines, comics and politics.
They will be making a 20 minute presentation followed by brief interviews with some zines that span politics, comix and zines including Isy from Morgenmuffel and Edd from Hey Monkey Riot/ Last Hours.
Etsy as DIY – Easy as Pie?
Informal discussion with Q&A session – Upstairs stage room: 3.3pm
For those not already in the know, Etsy is a phenomenally popular online marketplace for handmade goods. Imagine a giant craft-filled version of Ebay, without the bidding. Visitors to the site can browse from thousands of different categories of objects including handmade books and zines. Two people who are selling via Etsy are Alex Wrekk and Emma Jane Falconer, and who also run a group for zinesters on Etsy called Team Zine, they will be talking about their experiences of the site, looking at both the positives and pitfalls, as well as alternative distribution methods.
http://www.etsy.com | Alex Wrekk’s Etsy shop | Emma Jane Falconer’s Etsy shop
Read me (not) like a book
Zine readings – Upstairs stage room: 4.30pm
Not quite poetry, not quite diary, not quite book, but something altogether better; writing in zines, especially perzines is thought-provoking, insightful and authentic. Hear from a handful of some zine favourites like Alex Wrekk (Brainscan), Phil Chokeword (Facial Disobedience), Chris (Lipgloss), Kathleen (Scratch That Itch zine) and Chella Quint (Adventures in Menstruation zine), reading extracts from their writings.
Hot from the press – collective zine workshop
Zine making workshop and printing
Take part and make a zine with the help of Footprinters Workers Co-op. If you are coming to the London Zine Symposium bring an A5 page for inclusion into our collective zine, or make up your page on the day. Once we have all the pages we will then print up the zine on-site(!) using a special photocopier Footprinters are bringing down with them on the day. So you really will be able to take away this zine ‘hot from the press’.
The theme is ‘Live fast or die old’ – feel free to interpret this how you like or to disregard entirely!
Submitting your page
The printing press that we will be using requires a white border of at least 5mm round each page and images need to be high contrast to copy clearly. Bring your page submission to the Footprinters area (it will signed clearly on the day). The zine is limited to 52 pages (so it ends up under 100g and so would only need one stamp for postage). We will only include the first 52 pages we receive so don’t hang about!
We will then be printing in the early afternoon and by 3.30pm we should have the first copies rolling off the booklet maker, and you will be able to watch all this in all its live-action glory!
The zine will be free to contributors and will cost £1 for anyone else or additional copies. If you can’t stay until 3:30 then there will be envelopes (you will need to provide a stamp) available for you to complete to get a copy of the zine posted on to you.
The printing press, ink and paper are all donated by Footprint Workers Co-op (www.footprinters.co.uk) so all money received by the sale of the zine will go directly to help cover the costs of holding the symposium.
If you would like to get involved and either suggest or run an event that you would like to see happen please get in touch.
And more?
Oh yes, we still have more up our sleeves. Including as much vegan cake as you can possible eat and games for geeks! Stayed tuned for more soon.
If you’d like to get involved, or suggest your own workshop get in touch by emailing us
For a list of workshops that happened at the London Zine Symposium 2008 please click here.