Richmond Zine Fest

Richmond Zine Fest is an annual event at which local and national zine-makers can gather to sell and trade their zines and network with other people in the zine community. The zine fest is not just for zine creators and distros. It’s a free and open event for all ages with tablers selling zines as well as other DIY items, informative and fun workshops throughout the afternoon, and good times, food and conversation in general. This event happens every Fall–typically during the month of October.

The Richmond Zine Fest has been going strong in Richmond, VA since 2007.

History

The 2007 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at the Firehouse Theatre and The Camel in Richmond, VA.

The 2007 zine fest in Richmond was the first one to be held in 13 years (the last was held in 1994 and had 200 attendees). A zine fest was being held in hopes of creating a network amongst current zine writers and distro owners in Richmond and Virginia (plus the Southern/Mid-Atlantic regions) and raising awareness and encouraging the creation of zines, independent press, and other D.I.Y. endeavors in Richmond and the Southern/Mid-Atlantic regions. The 2007 Richmond Zine Fest had over 40 vendors and between 250-300 attendees.

The 2008 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 11th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. The event featured 45 vendors, several workshops, and 250 attendees.

The 2009 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, November 7th, at Gallery 5, following a zine-maker art exhibition the previous night at the same gallery as a part of the city's First Friday Art Walk. Including both nights, the event included 50 vendors, several workshops, and more than 300 attendees.

The 2010 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 16th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. The event featured 43 vendors and five workshops.

The 2011 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 8th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. This year's fest featured a vibrant poster by local artist and zine-maker Oura Sananikone and among the guests in the room were local boutique comics publisher AdHouse Press, Alex Wrekk of Brainscan zine, Parcell Press, and the folks behind the best zine for bad cinema aficionados I Love Bad Movies.

The 2012 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 6th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. Poster design in true zinester black and white inky form was created by Chloe Repulsa Nagy. The event featured 42 vendors, 5 workshops, an intro to zine-making table, and 200 attendees.

The 2013 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 5th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. The poster design was created by zine fest co-organizer and local artist Mara Hyman. The event included a makers and letterpress demo space in collaboration with Ladies of Letterpress, Bowe House Press, and The People's Library of Richmond. Local historian and former editor of the independent magazine Throttle, Dale Brumfield gave a presentation about the surprisingly rich history of independent press and zine culture in Richmond, VA.

The 2014 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 4th, at the Gay Community Center of Richmond.

The 2015 Richmond Zine Fest was held Saturday, October 10th at the main branch of the Richmond Public Library.

The 2016 Richmond Zine Fest was a multi-day event held from Thursday, September 29th until Saturday, October 1st and was also held at the Richmond Public Library.

The 2017 Richmond Zine Fest was another multi-day event held on Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th at the main branch of the Richmond Public Library.

The 2018 Richmond Zine Fest was held on Friday, October 12th and Saturday, October 13th at the Richmond Public Library.

The 2019 Richmond Zine Fest was held on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th at the Richmond Public Library.

Organizers

The Richmond Zine Fest is currently organized by Liz Canfield, Mo Karnage of Cuddle Puddles and Hot Pants zine and Approaching Apocalypse Zine Distro, Celina Nicole of Mean Girl zine, Mara Hyman of You're Not Alone in Being Alone and other zines, Brian Baynes of Time Shifting zine, and Amy June Breesman of Semi-Precious zine.

Previous organizers include founding members: Sarah, formerly of Dangeresque zine and Screamqueen Distro, Nicole Introvert, and Taylor of Parcell Press as well as Cat of Catharsis zine, Heidi of Sidenotes zine, and Danny of Don't Tread on Me zine.

Anyone can volunteer to organize or otherwise help with the event.

Safer Space Policy

The Richmond Zine Fest is a safer space, which means that it is intended to be a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behaviors, and language. Participants and attendees are asked to consider how their language and behavior impacts others in attendance.

The Richmond Zine Fest is a sober, all ages event.

Service animals are welcome, but other animals are not.

The following guidelines will help RZF be a safer space:

Respect peoples’ physical and emotional boundaries.
Always ask before taking pictures, video or audio recording of people at the Richmond Zine Fest or sponsored events.
Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing boundaries.
Respect peoples’ opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing points of view.
Be responsible for your actions, and aware that they may have an effect on others regardless of original intent.
The following actions and forms of discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated:
- - Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other forms of discrimination
  - Theft of money or stuff
  - Physical, verbal, or mental abuse
  - Sexual harassment, inappropriate/unwelcome comments and behaviors
  - Disruptive or disrespectful behavior
  - Causing a participant or attendee to feel distressed or unsafe

The RZF staff reserves the right to ask any attendees who are violating the safer space policy to change or address their unsafe behavior or language, or leave the event if needed.

The Zine Fest Organizers are only responsible for what happens at our events. We are not liable for or able to mediate outside issues. Should an issue arise at Richmond Zine Fest or a RZF sponsored event, we encourage you to approach any Zine Fest Organizer to address the issue.

We will do our best to deal with any issues as they arise, immediately or at a later time depending on the situation. You are also welcome to get in touch with us at a later time if that makes you more comfortable. We can be emailed at: zine.fest@richmondzinefest.org.

We hope everyone has a great time at the Richmond Zine Fest and all RZF sponsored events. We do our best to organize an inclusive, positive, DIY, zine-tastic event and to build that culture all year long.