#Toronto zine fair

[fanzines]

Poster for Toronto’s PaperJam Zine Fair taking place on March 25th, 2023!

[toronto-aces-and-aros]

Toronto Aces & Aros Zine issue-- call for submission!

Hey all! We’re going to be organizing a group zine for the Toronto Aces and Aros group (exactly 10 years after the last group zine issue!). The goal is to be able to finalize and print the issue in the Fall of this year.

If you’re interested in submitting a piece for the zine, please read on. Thanks!

Submission deadline August 15, 2025 (We will also be having a zine-making workshop early September and assembling everything immediately after that.)

Theme:

Asexuality and aromanticism, and various grey experiences, are frequently described in terms of a lack of attraction or sometimes a lack of desire. This zine issue seeks to both explore and challenge the framing of these experiences as “lacking” or “missing” something.

What can be learned through an absence? In what ways can we envision asexuality and aromanticism as something gained rather than something missing? What meaning do you find in negative spaces? Or perhaps you find recognition or comfort in the vocabulary of “lack” - what significance does it have to you? What have these things (or questioning these things) brought into your life? What are reasons you’re grateful to be somewhere under the ace and/or aro umbrellas? We’d love to share them!

Submissions should be generally based around this theme, but you are welcome to interpret it in any way you like. 

Submission Instructions:

Submissions may be in text format (essays, poetry, etc), or visual format (collages, comics, etc), or a combination of the two. For visual submissions, note that the zine will be printed in black & white – the online version will be available in full colour.

Text submissions: Maximum 1500 words (no minimum) - with some flexibility if needed

Visual submissions: Maximum of 4 pages (no minimum)

Please email submissions to toronto.aces.and.aros.zine@gmail.com and include the following:

Your submission

A title for your submission, if you want one

The name / pen name / username under which you would like to be published, or “anonymous” if you prefer.

Brief bio (maximum 150 words) that will be published alongside your submission and will help give context to who is writing.

You may wish to include things such as age range, gender, pronouns, racial or ethnic identity, or other aspects of your experience and/or interests. Note: we especially want to interrupt how some aspects of identity, such as whiteness, get treated as the “default” when left unnamed. For this reason we encourage contributors to include these in bios. (e.g. if you are white, we encourage including this in your bio in order to disrupt the idea of whiteness being the unspoken baseline).

Please also be mindful of the group Respect Guidelines in your submissions: https://torontoacesandaros.wordpress.com/accessibility/respect-guidelines/ 

Timeline:

We’ll be collecting submissions via email until 15 August 2024. We may reach out to contributors to do minor editing & clarification of submissions as needed.

We’ll also include submissions collected from the zine-making workshop that will be organized in early September.

Plans for the zine:

The zine will be printed for distribution to recover print costs at Toronto Aces & Aros group events, e.g. tabling at Pride events and/or zine faire type spaces. It will also be made available for free on the Toronto Aces & Aros website.

Questions?

You can email toronto.aces.and.aros.zine@gmail.com with questions, or follow up in the #zine Discord channel. For more information about Toronto Aces & Aros or to join the Discord server, please email toronto.aces.and.aros@gmail.com

[patrickkyle]

Zine Dream is an annual small press art fair that is held in Toronto. Zine Dream 14 will be held at the Parkdale Hall on August 17 from 11AM-5PM

Applications open until June 3rd.

www.zinedream.com

[kayleerowena]

Oh, if you wouldn’t mind questions— I was planning on trying to do a bit of a tour of cons over the summer, try things out while I’m off school, but I’m not entirely sure what a good starting number would be or where to start finding places to exhibit/how far ahead I need to apply.

i absolutely don't mind questions! i started out with doing 1-3 small cons and zine fairs a year, and nowadays i do 4-5. this year i did 3 big ones — flamecon in nyc, small press expo in maryland, and tcaf in toronto — and 2 small — brooklyn indie comics showcase in nyc & hallowzine in maryland. i think 1-3 is a good number to aim for when starting out!

bigger cons are usually much more expensive to table, especially if you have to travel for them. when i started tabling cons, i waited until i knew around how much money i could expect to make during a day of tabling before i started applying to any conventions where tables would cost more than $100. ideally, when you table you'll make back whatever money you spent on tabling/merch/printing/travel, and everything after that is a bonus! smaller conventions and zine fairs generally don't cost more than $20-30 to table at, in my experience, so if you find local ones it's easy to make your money back and get an idea of what items sell well, what you need to make more of, and etc.

zine fairs are a really good way to get started, in my experience. there's a couple places online that collect links to various zine fairs and comic cons — i don't know that any of them are always 100% complete or up-to-date, but here's a couple links:

printed matter

stencil.wiki (also includes application links for some upcoming cons!)

broken pencil

if you're in the nyc area and looking to do a larger convention, flamecon has always been a really good experience for me — and tables are (i think, usually) first-come-first-serve, rather than an application system with a jury, so it's easier to get in as a con beginner than juried conventions are, generally speaking. it's the first big convention i ever did, and i've done it three times now and had a blast every time! i'd still recommend doing a few smaller ones first, though, just so you get in the swing of things.

as for how far ahead to apply, that really depends on the convention. i'd recommend looking into conventions and zine fairs in your area and joining their email lists! bigger conventions generally start applications like 6 months before the con, while tiny zine fairs might not have applications open until a month beforehand. it really depends on the place and the people running it!

going to conventions and zine fairs even if you're not tabling is also a really good way to learn about more events happening in your area. you can bring zines or small comics to trade or give to people, too!

i also recommend following @howtobeaconartist — they've got a ton of useful resources and advice. hopefully this is helpful!

[screentonescast]

Screen Tones, a Webcomic Podcast

Show Notes

Conventions pt 1

Release Date: July 20, 2022

Featuring

Renie Jesanis - She/They , www.kateblast.com

Christina Major (Delphina) - She/Her, www.sombulus.com

Ally Rom Colthoff (Varethane) - She/They, http://chirault.sevensmith.net/ http://wychwoodcomic.com/

Kristen Lee (Krispy) She/They https://www.ghostjunksickness.com/

In This Episode:

Hello and welcome to the Screen Tones, where we talk anything and everything webcomics! Today we’re going to be talking about these crazy events that happen sometimes when webcomic artists can meet each other and their readers…. in real life??? Wild! That’s right, we’re talking about Conventions!

This is the beginning of a two-part series. We’re going to cover the basics of tabling at a convention from the perspective of a webcomic artist! How do you find out about and decide which shows to attend? What do you bring? Let’s dive in and talk about it!

2:00 What conventions and events have you have you found that worked best for you? Some tips for beginners.

Starting small can help you find the right event. Look for local events, or events that are focused on comics or art, independent artists or even the genre that your webcomic falls into. Toronto Comic Arts Festival is a favourite of many Screen Tones members. Look beyond the large comic conventions and you'll find smaller events like zine-fests, art fairs, and such.

Make sure you are aware of the costs and your budget. The larger the convention, the higher the cost tends to be for travel, transportation and even the fee for renting a table. To help cut costs, consider sharing a table with another artist.

Also keep in mind the application process for each convention you have in mind. The world of conventions is growing increasingly competitive so knowing the acceptance process and requirements can help you better gauge the likelihood of your acceptance and prepare to apply.

10:00 How do you find conventions that you can apply to?

Social Media is a great way to hear about conventions. Having a good network of creators can help you get more leads on potential events. Facebook groups, Discord channels, and more are great sources of intel.

12:45 What kind of things do you prepare for the convention ahead of time?

Part of it is finding what sticks and works for you. Prints and stickers are everywhere and fairly inexpensive. Find things that fit and work together and give off the vibes you want and hopefully ties to your comic in some way. Don't feel like you have to ONLY have items and art that is specific to your comic. Often more well known topics or things that anyone can understand like puns or fan art can pull in attention and give you an opener to telling people about your original work.

Having a theme for your table, whether genre or character or concept based, can help focus your table and avoid confusion because people will be able to know what you're about with a quick glance. And when you're at a convention, you have a small amount of time to draw attention before people pass you by, so making it clear and easy what you're about will really help.

26:40 Now you have the merch, what else do you need?

Have a secure way to accept and hold onto money. Something wearable is a good idea so you can keep it secure and next to you.

You'll want to bring a good amount of small bills/change to be able to break the first few customers you get in the day.

Have something that enables credit card transactions.

Device chargers!! Plan ahead for anything you need to plug in.

Having a backdrop can help create a clear boundary of where your both starts and ends and keep more focus on your wares.

8 foot tablecloth is a good staple.

Displays to pop your items up so people can see them from afar.

Plastic sleeves for your art.

Scissors, tape, sharpies, etc.

Sharpies or some kind of way to sign prints in a permanent/fast drying way.

A menu or some kind of pricing signs.

BUSINESS CARDS. So people can find you. And/or a sign that includes your contact info in case you run out of business cards.

41:30 What should you NOT bring?

Music. It's loud enough, you don't need to add to it.

Start with the basics before you start adding magic waterfalls and forests to your displays.

Don't bring cheap and broken display holders. Set up before hand, and make sure it looks good and is sturdy. Stress test to make sure it will last.

If you're eating, make sure the food is not messy. Drinks have lids so it won't spill.

46:40 What do you expect when you're in the thick of it?

You're smiling a lot...prepare for cheek hurting.

You won't get a lot of breaks.

Know what the volunteers are able to do for you.

Scope out the building so you know where to get things you need.

BUDDY SYSTEM to help.

Have a pitch and info on where to find your comic.

People will touch your stuff.

Take notes on how you do: what sells, when it sells, etc.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 and....

Thanks for Listening!

Have a comment? Question? Concern?

Contact us via Twitter @ScreenTonesCast or email screentonescast@gmail.com

Screen Tones Cast:

Ally Rom Colthoff (Varethane) - She/They http://chirault.sevensmith.net/ http://wychwoodcomic.com/

Christina Major (Delphina) - She/Her, www.sombulus.com

Claire Niebergall (Clam) - She/Her, www.phantomarine.com

Kristen Lee (Krispy) She/They https://www.ghostjunksickness.com/

Megan Davison - She/Her, https://www.webtoons.com/en/search?keyword=megasketch

Miranda Reoch - She/Her, mirandacakes.art 

Phineas Klier - They/Them, http://heirsoftheveil.fervorcraft.de

Rae Baade(Rae) - they/them, https://www.empyreancomic.com 

Renie Jesanis - She/They , www.kateblast.com

[carpentergothic]

I’m here today at this event in Toronto! Come by to pick up some merch from me and a lot of other really cool vendors I know😄

[makeshiftlove]

We're celebrating the 1 year anniversary of our weekly Comics / Komiks Meet-Up at the library with a Kwentong Bayan - Komiks Zine Fair !!! All-ages activities include DIY button-making, merch tables, short movies about comics, a Filipino Komiks reading corner & raffle prizes!!! Please join us on: Saturday July 21, 2018 1 PM - 4:30 PM Lillian H. Smith Branch - Toronto Public Library 239 College St. (at Spadina) Meeting Room A, Lower Level FREE EVENT https://www.facebook.com/events/1070717199758633 Accessibility info: Meeting Room A is accessible by elevator. Barrier-free washrooms are located on this floor. Closest accessible subway is SPADINA. Please note, the library is a scent-free space. For more info, please call 416-393-7746

I’ll be at the merch table at this event with my zines and some stickers. Stop by! Say hi!

[yosick]

Toronto’s First Asian Zine Fair Sunday, November 19th 12:00 - 5:00 pm Tranzac Cub Details here.

[forgeartmag]

i’m so excited to be a part of the 10th annual Zine Dream this weekend in Toronto! on Sunday I’ll be running a FORGE. table at the festival, selling zines, shirts, and prints, a long with a ton of other incredible exhibitors! if you’re in Toronto over the weekend, come hang out and say hi!

thanks so much to @colourcodeprinting, @patrickkyleillustration, and Alicia Nauta for including me in the festival, and making space for artists and zine makers to share their work for the past ten years.

Here is a link to the Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/1907550532846509/

[xpaceculturalcentre]

Join us for our 7th annual Holiday Zine & Maker Fair held at Xpace Cultural Centre on Saturday, December 17th from 12-6pm!

We will be selling zines, comics, prints, t-shirts, tote bags, jewelry, crafts and other handmade multiples! There will be music, snacks and good vibes. FREE TO ATTEND

Vendors: Alicia’s Klassic Kool Shoppe – http://alicianauta.com/ Allison & Cam – http://www.allisonandcam.com/ Basically Metal Jewelry – http://basicallymetal.tumblr.com/ BIG SIS – http://instagram.com/bigsis666 Amrit Brar – http://amritbrarillustration.com Wil Brask – http://cargocollective.com/illustrationWB/ Heidi Cho – http://heidichomakesart.bigcartel.com Colour Code Printing & Publishing – http://www.colourcodeprinting.com/ Lee D’Angelo – https://www.facebook.com/rat666tat/ Alisha Davidson – http://alishadavidson.com DisabledFemme – https://www.patreon.com/disabledfemme Danica Drago – http://www.danicadrago.com/ Robert Dayton – http://www.robertdayton.com ENBY Magazine – http://www.enbymag.ca Fake Geek Girls Like Us – http://www.fakegeekgirlslikeus.tumblr.com Whitney French Writes – http://whitneyfrenchwrites.com Friendship Edition – http://jennwoodall.format.com Rosena Fung – http://www.rosenafung.com/ Anna May Henry – http://www.annamayhenry.com Annika Hoefs – http://www.annikahoefsceramics.com Eli Howey – http://elihowey.ca JMS Press – http://www.jmspress.com Justseeds Artists Cooperative – http://justseeds.org Ness Lee – http://www.nesslee.com Shelby McLeod – http://www.shelbymcleod.com/ Corey Moranis – http://www.coreymoranis.com chu nap – http://ghostspaces.tumblr.com OCAD U Student Press – http://www.ocadustudentpress.com OCAD U Zine Collective – http://zinesforlunch.blogspot.ca Philip Ocampo – http://www.philipocampo.com OKAY Collective – http://www.okaycollective.com/ Lido Pimienta – http://lidopimientart.tumblr.com/ Erin Rei – http://erinrei.com Louise Reimer – http://www.louisereimer.ca Rotten Variety – https://www.facebook.com/RottenVariety/ Sabrina Scott – http://witchbody.com Morgan Sears-Williams – http://www.morgansearswilliams.com Sebby Confetti – http://sebbyconfetti.com/ Starchild Stela – https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoftMarket Amber Williams-King Kendra Yee – http://kendrayee.com YYZine Distro – http://www.yyzinedistro.com

Poster by Wil Brask

[fanzines]

Canzine Toronto (the Festival of Zines and Underground Culture) is going online this year. You can register here.

[toronto-aces-and-aros]

Ace Toronto August 2019 Events

1) Ace Toronto Social: regular stuff PLUS knitting, hemp and boondoggle skill-share

Wednesday, August 21st, 2019-- 7-9pm

252 Bloor St. W (OISE), 4th floor

room 4-420 (the room is confirmed so it shouldn't have to be moved this time)

2) Ace Toronto Discussion-- topic TBA

Saturday, August 31st, 2019-- 1-3pm

519 Church St., room 301

3) Some other events in the community that might interest people

Bricks & Glitter is organising many LGBTQ+ events this month-- there's no affiliation with Ace Toronto... just thought these might interest some folks:

A zine fair featuring sick and disabled queer and trans folks on Sunday August 25th-- ASL interpretation confirmed/

A trans and queer open mic night on Wednesday August 27th

More details of Ace Toronto events below:

1) Social -- board games/puzzle/pictionary & skill-share for knitting, hemp and other string crafts

Into knitting or hemp or boondoggle (because the 90s are back)? Want to learn and/or revisit these things? Materials provided, but also, welcome to bring your own

Wednesday, August 21st, 2019-- 7-9pm

252 Bloor St. W (OISE), 4th floor

room 4-420

(the room is confirmed so it shouldn't have to be moved this time) 

Accessibility at OISE (252 Bloor st):

large ramp to enter building; elevators inside

please avoid scented products (we will have unscented soap)

closest TTC station is St. George which is listed as an accessible station (both escalators & and elevator)

we regret that we are unable to offer ASL interpretation

Note: the direct-entrance from St. George station to OISE building is NOT ACCESSIBLE in the evenings (if you enter the building this way, you need to go up one flight of stairs to get to the elevator because the door to go directly to the elevator on that floor is locked)

2) Ace Toronto Discussion-- Ace Memes and Humour

(Facilitators - Sam and Tammy)

Saturday, August 31st, 2019-- 1-3pm

519 Church St., room 301

Accessibility at The 519 Community Centre (519 Church St.):

large ramp to enter building; elevators inside

all gender washrooms available

please avoid scented products (we will have unscented soap)

closest TTC station is Wellesley which is *not* an accessible station

we regret that we are unable to offer ASL interpretation

[patrickkyle]

Poster for this Friday’s Zine Dream Launch Party at MOCA Toronto.

Toronto ppl - this is a ticketed event - be sure to grab a ticket beforehand here!

Zine Dream follows on September 24th & 25th at MOCA - an annual small press fair featuring zines, comics, art, multiples and more! Full list of exhibitors and other info at zinedream.com

Poster design by Patrick Kyle 

[drawdownbooks]

LAST COPY! Dead Ringer⁣ Daniel Zender⁣ Available at www.draw-down.com⁣ ⁣ Spooky images and visual similarities collide in this zine of American illustrator and designer Daniel Zender's atmospheric drawings, paintings and prints. There's something creepy and coded in this little book of horrors. Visit Draw Down at the Toronto Art Book Fair this weekend at Artscape Youngplace! TOABF features curated exhibitions, Canadian and international vendors, and community programming including speaker series, readings, talks, launches and workshops. ⁣ ⁣ #drawdown #drawdownbooks #deadringer #danielzender @danielzender (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwmQiJrH91S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3p0ajioopcr6

[fanzineist]

Fanzineist Vienna Art Book & Zine Fair 

24-26 May, 2019

Nordbahnhalle -  Leystraße 157, 1020 Vienna, Austria

Project Directors: Deniz Beşer & Deniz Güvensoy

Supported by: Bundeskanzleramt Österreich, Kulturabteilung der Stadt Wien (MA 7), ÖH - Österreichische Hochschüler_innenschaft, Nordbahnhalle,  TU Wien, Klima Energie Fonds. HochschülerInnenschaft an der Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (hufak)   Contributed by Stockholm Performance Art and Istanbul Performance Art

2019 Exhibitors

3 kittens from moon (Vienna, AT)                                              

Akulka (Moscow, RU)

Are We There Yet Magazine  (Vienna, AT)

Auslöser (Vienna, AT)

Bahoe Books (Vienna, AT)

Bernhard Cella - Salon für Kunstbuch (Vienna, AT)

Carlos Vergara (Barranquilla, CO / Vienna, AT)

Carol Barbour (Toronto, CAN)

Colleen Anderhub (London, UK)

Damocle Edizioni (Venice, IT)

DEPOSIT (Budapest, HU)

DIN - Drawn Into Narrative ( Vienna, AT)

Dirty Flower Press (Berlin, DE)

Edition Dostal (Vienna, AT)

Epileptic Media (Vienna, AT)

Eva Jaroňová (Brno, CZ)

FOMO (Istanbul, TR)

Franz the lonely Austrionaut (Vienna, AT)

Handshake (Valencia, ES)

Heyt be! Fanzin (Istanbul, TR / Vienna, AT)

Hurrikan Press (Budapest, HU)

Industrias Doc (Barcelona, ES)

Jack Kollektiv  (Vienna, AT)

Kristian Ujhelji (Vienna, AT)

Kudla Werkstatt (Prague, CZ)

Livor Mortis Zine (London, UK)

Mass Control Superviolence (Vienna, AT)

mischen  (Vienna, AT)

MOSHI (Baden, DE)

Moshpit  (Leipzig, DE)

Multiple Spirits  (Tokyo, JP / Vienna, AT)

Nase Zine (Vienna, AT)

pAф (Vienna, AT /  Sofia, BG)

PageFive (Prague, CZ)

Pirol (Vienna, AT)

Rada Nastai (Berlin, DE)

Risotop Verlag (Leipzig, DE)

RRevue / Schnösel mösel (Leipzig, DE)

Sakura (Vienna, AT)

Tales of Narwhales / by Katja Hasenöhrl (Vienna, AT)

Taumatropo Libros (Vienna, AT)

TheHiddenRiver (Munich, DE)

TLTRPreß (Berlin, DE / Prague, CZ )

UnterPalmen (Vienna, AT)

Viktoria Strehn & Erik Norden  (Vienna, AT)

Volcano Club (Marseille, FR)

Well Gedacht Publishing  (Vienna, AT)

ztscrpt (Vienna, AT)

————————————————————————————————————–

FANZINEIST EXHIBITIONS:

Fanzineist Vienna Art Book & Zine Fair  International Art Book& Zine Exhibition:

Eva Fenz, Yusuf Murat Şen, Lucky Punch Press, Die Brueder Publishing, Torso Zine,  Olga Stefatoy,  Jens Besser,  Sezgin Boynik (Rab Rab Press), KLD Repro,  DEFACED by Olivia Browne, Flowyage, Livor Mortis Zine, New Poetic of Labor, Lena Wurz, Sophia Hembeck, Lex Kartane, (AIWS), Out of Darkness Fanzine, Zeynep Beler, Emin Yu, Lupemacanudo, Michael Dietrich, Asta D., Miss Eve, Irena Silic, Lolli Editions, Lea Schnell & Lena Wittman, Emekci Sair, James Turek, Father Zine (Valdir Ramos), Henry Jaepelt, Elmonstruodecoloresnotieneboca, Kati Szilagyi, Thomas Wellman, Lukas Verstraete, Roni Fahima, Benjamin Courtault, Gözaltı Fanzine, Suimasen Turkey, Dinçer Dökümcü, Erdem Varol, Arzu Arısoy, Onur Girit, Hrisitina Tasheva, Stefan Alexander, Ruben Malia, Pietra Publications, Rurality (Null Set Magazine & SLAG Magazine), Judith Erwes, Hugo Tripper (Publiko), Fail Books,  and many mores.  

———————————————————————————————————

Heyt be! Chronology & Mini Zine Archive from Turkey

Curator & Installation: Deniz Beşer

Turkey has a long tradition of censorship but Zines are documents and snapshots of society without the censored voice. The installation displays Heyt be! Fanzin’s all issues, some selected zines and other forms of selfpublications from Turkey, going back to the 1990s to today

Heyt be! Chronology & Mini Zine Archive from Turkey: Mondo Trasho, Spastik Eroll, Nase Zine, Çizgi Fanzin, Heyt be! Fanzin, Fomo fanzin, Santigrad100, Paslı Teneke Fanatik Magazin, Taxidermia Fanzine, Güzel, Shadow Of A Doubt, Efkar Records, Mirror Selfieholic, Falçata, Why Has Nobody Noticed This, Diplo Docus, Medya Tavırs Fanzine, Hayta, Anarşist Vegan Queer Gün, Eblek Hardcore, Ver Leftere,Yelloz, Genedoğum, Haylaz Eroll, Fanzin Literarü, Frozen Kuken 45 C, Sünnet Fanzin, Mono Propaganda

——————————————————————————————————–

Data Loam Book Prototype, 2019

(FWF-PEEK project Data Loam: “Sometimes Hard, Usually Soft. The Future of Knowledge Systems.”)

http://www.dataloam.org/

Artists:

Maximilian Gallo

Monica C. LoCascio

Ivonne Gracia Murillo

Istem Özen

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Istanbul Performance Art: Antonio Irre, Marija Griniuk, Pınar Derin Gençer, Roi Vaara, Viviana Druga.

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Stockholm Performance Art: István Kovács, Jasmin Schaitl.

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[carpentergothic]

Hey Toronto kids Im at ocad zine fair today with @grandsword !! Lots of stuff for cheap and lots of awesome student work💖💖 please come on out if youre able!