Bristol Comic & Zine Fair 2018. We hope you had a great day.
After the success of BCZF 2017, we decided to stick with our new format: hiring the dual venue of The Station and The Kitchen. The whole ground floor was buzzing from the moment we opened the doors. Accessible Hour, from 11am started the event with a friendly atmosphere, and proved necessary as from 12pm on the dot, punters flooded in with no let-up until around 4pm. We made good use of the upper floors too, with a drop-in workshop on the 1st floor, organised by Chloe Moore, Hannah Chapman and Lize Meddings. Many thanks to Salford Zine Library for giving us permission to screen Self Publishers of the World Take Over. A 2011 film by Craig John Barr showcasing all the cool stuff that’s in the Salford Zine Library. We also hosted a presentation on zine culture, DIY Cultures and Shy Radicals by Hamja Ahsan. A really moving talk – passionate and thought-provoking.
Thanks to the venues The Station and The Kitchen, especially Alice and Kate, for being helpful and communicative collaborators. The food was incredible!
We had the best crew possible at BCZF:
Tom – Veteran steward and volunteer supervisor
Trigger – Announcer, photographer, purveyor of sweets
Alton & Laura – Able assistants and AV wizards for the talk and film screening
Amy & Zoe – Tireless Communal Table organisers. A mammoth task managed with great efficiency – non stop from 10am-6pm.
Volunteers:
Thomas, Electra, Namhara, Emma, Abbie. You were hardworking, enthusiastic and friendly.
Thank you to all of the Communal Table exhibitors. There were 55 of you, which is a zine fair in itself. The quality and variety of publications was excellent.
Thank you to all of our exhibitors we hope you had a great day. You really brought enthusiasm and love for the community with you, and that can only be a good thing. Check out our brilliant Spotlight exhibitors here: https://bczf.co.uk/bczf-2018-spotlight/
Not forgetting the hundreds of people who braved the weather to come and support the scene. We hope you left with bags of comics, zines, and inspiration. Check out these photos by @robynnicolephoto on Instagram
We hope you loved our poster, by Molly Fairhurst, as much as we did – an eye catching colour combo of mint and pink, as well as the design for our tees and totes – Thanks to Not Now Studio for printing those up.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the fundraisers: The Wine Mums, Diving Bell, The Perverts, and TS Idiot. We had a great night at Cafe Kino.
And everyone else who helped in the run-up to BCZF: Alice Urbino, CYN, Wychwood Festival, Prestige, Dan at Fat Flyers, Hobs, Ballpit Magazine, Sam, Ali, Simon, Bristol Sanctuary, & Samaritans.
Special mention to Lize Meddings for providing materials, expertise and good vibes at all three workshop sessions throughout the year – Wychwood Festival, Creative Youth Network, and at BCZF. Don’t forget, Sketchbook Club is at The Station on the 3rd Saturday of every month:
Thanks to Chloe for helping out with the fundraiser, providing screen printing, planning the drop-in workshop at BCZF and for your input on the exhibitor applications.
The biggest thank you of 2018 goes to Hannah. Commander Riker. Thanks for rising to the challenge, providing support, and fielding all of the tasks I threw at you with good grace.
BCZF 2018 proves that the self-publishing community is very much alive. Keep looking after each other, and keep creating. It’s always worthwhile.
Much love
Esme
BCZF Director
Bristol Comic & Zine Fair 