1st bombay zine fest

WHAT IT IS : Bombay’s First Zine Fest is a celebration of self-published and DIY comics and literature. We will showcase independently published literature, comic books, poetry, journalism, and drawings. We are independent artists and writers, who are excited about DIY publishing and fostering communities of support and education around it. The Fest will feature zine-makers’ works for trade and for sale. Through an exchange of ideas, energy, skill sets, discussions and workshops, Bombay Zine Fest hopes --- to foster an only-slightly-competitive, queer-friendly, ethnic-rich environment of creation in written, zine-ic form ; and to nourish the expansion of zine culture in Bombay and other cities where we take it to. WHAT IS A ZINE : most commonly a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images usually reproduced using a photocopier, printing press or just paper and pen. Dissidents and members of socially marginalized groups have published their own opinions in leaflet and pamphlet form for as long as such technology has been available. The primary intent of publication is usually for purposes other than profit. Zines frequently draw inspiration from a "do-it-yourself" philosophy, or DIY ethic. Zines cover an endless amount of topics and can have some awesome, one-of-a-kind, collectable art inside. WHAT IS A ZINE FEST : Zine fests are a great place to learn something new, get inspired, discuss, interact, meet friends, connect with local writers and get involved with various forms of accessible media. They bring together people who are interested and involved in making zines and DIY publishing, sharing ideas and stories. It’s an amazing way to get a conversation started, and make something big happen in our community. IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE : The heart of the act of zine-making, is to be rooted in physical interaction between zinester, zine, and the reader. Zines were meant to be handed from person to person, physically shared. The experience of handling zines in person, turning each page to reveal intimate secrets, funny comics, and poetry, can’t be duplicated on-line. You would get the content, but miss out on the physical experience. Our work will also help to legitimize zines, not as radical historical footnotes but as valid literary and historic works worthy of collection, preservation and study. It would be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that zines can be relevant political and educational tools. Self-published ephemera like zines, handbills, and independent newspapers can provide a glimpse into a part of history that includes the voices of marginalized individuals and groups which would otherwise be lost were they not collected. Since before alternative publications are a natural and important tool for preserving free speech. THE PLAN : We aim for something between 100 to 150 zines, to start with, as we move to subsequent venues, we add to this number, as well as keep further refining the set that will ultimately rest at the zine library in Bombay. We will revise / revive / remake some self-published material, that have missed out on being enough visible due to either being in a regional language or often being too text heavy, we could make zines from these. The travelling exhibition will visit colleges, schools libraries and community centres, and anyone else who will have us, setting up a workshop day at each location to add to the project. The bold endeavours of the zine-makers we present might even influence other hopefuls to pursue their dreams as well, ultimately allowing aspiring zine-makers to lead better, more fulfilled lives. Items sold at the zinefest fit in with the basic ideals of DIY-enthusiasts. And they will not, in any way, promote discriminatory behaviour, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. WE NEED YOUR HELP : # if you would like to host the fest, # also please suggest your favourite, already existing friendly venues, in other cities # funds to put together a set of 300 zines # funds for promotional materials, # funds for taking the zine fest to other cities, # cover the printing costs of the first-annual commemorative zine of the fest which we will give out to everyone who attends, for free LONG TERM PLAN : One of the larger goals is to set-up a zine library, with material from india and the rest of the world, at our underground bookhouse in Bombay, we are already working on this. We could offer a similar package of 300 zines from around the world, to some book-clubs, artists’ spaces, libraries maybe collectors, say for a whole-sale price, this will help us promote and encourage the vast range of zine-makers we will be working with. We need your help to LAUNCH THIS ZINE FEST, Already super thanks, of course, the more we raise, THE MORE WE CAN DO!