We are pleased to launch the first Barnsley Zine Fair, which will feature 20+ local and national zine makers, writers and illustrators.
Since the 1930s, the international DIY zine scene has been a place for like-minded people who identify with specific sub-cultures, musical tribes, political parties, sporting teams or marginalised groups to share their ideas and experiences, through writing, poetry and art. Zines were essentially a form of blogging, predating social media and the internet.
A zine (pronounced ‘zeen’) or zines are predominantly self-published, hand-made magazines. They can be collaged, zeroxed, photocopied, or produced digitally and printed as a risograph. Although methods of production have changed slightly over the decades, it still remains very much a DIY publication and a true alternative to mainstream media.
Today, while music, sports and fan-fiction remain corner stones of fanzine culture, the community has also become safe space for people identifying as LGBTQIA+, or those who are disabled and/or a person of colour, to share their experiences, ideas and stories. Zines are distributed via zine fairs and through national and international online distribution networks. And as ever, the topics covered remain niche.
The topics and themes covered in our first zine fair, include cooking, mindfulness, music, photography, queer politics, pop culture, rural life, travel, and plenty of ‘per zines’, aka personal biographical zines inspired the writer’s lived experience.
The fair takes place at Barnsley Civic on Saturday 3 February, 10.30am to 4.00pm, Entry is free.
Follow @barnsleyzinefair on Instagram to stay up to date.
In partnership with Barnsley Libraries.
