Grrrl Zine Fair is a community interest company started by artist Lu Williams, as a way of bringing together and supporting feminist zine makers. Zines makers come from all walks of life and anyone can make a zine- but they particularly resonate with those who have been disenfranchised and whose voices are often missing in mainstream media. We continue to platform those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, transgender and non-binary, LGBTQIA+ and black and POC zine makers.
Grrrl Zine Fair started in 2015 with our first zine fair in Oxford, since then we’ve hosted multiple fairs in London, at music festivals and more recently at our studios The Old Waterworks in Southend-on-sea, thanks to Arts Council England funding.
We continue to create events, workshops, and zines and look after our queer and feminist zine library based in Southend. We’re always interested in bringing our travelling zine fair and library to new audiences.
We also run zine workshops, and residencies for zine makers and sell zine kits and courses which help us run our events and programmes.
Inspired by Riot Grrrl culture of the 1990s, which combined zine-making, art, and music— the band Bikini Kill coined the term ‘Grrrl to the front!’— Grrrl hopes to continue this mission, with events showcasing the diverse array of zine culture through workshops like screen printing and risograph zine making, performances, drop in self care such as tooth gems and nail painting and welfare areas thanks to our amazing network of creatives.
What is Grrrl Zine Fair?
Zines are self-published, often handmade magazine-style publications. They often are made by one person, or a small group of people coming together for a cause or a special interest. Therefore the content varies widely, one zine could be sharing ways in which we can help save the planet from environmental breakdown, and another could be a breakdown of the best outfits across the Star Trek franchise.
Some are very personal, others, irreverent. Some are glossy, almost indistinguishable from mainstream magazines, others are sewn together by hand in a small run of 5.
The wide variety of zines is what makes them exciting, incredibly varied and importantly- accessible. No other art form is more inviting - you can make one in 5 minutes, with no artistic skill, or you can spend a year developing one. We teach basic zine making through our zine workshops and also look after 600+ zines in our zine library - which is also portable!
We specifically collect queer and feminist zines and it is an incredible collection of voices, stories, artwork and photography but it is also an amazing piece of documentation of culture, from 80’s to now. Zines are a way in which we can document ourselves into history, a physically direct way to connect writer and reader, wether that’s now or in 50 years time.
Wait, rewind, whats a zine?
Meet the founder
Hey! I’m Lu Williams an artist who is fairly obsessed with zines. I started making my own zines alongside DJing ‘Bitchcraft’ and then ‘Hyperfemme’ which was born alongside fluffy hand-painted flame stripper heels. I also worked as an arts editor for Cuntry Living zine whilst studying art at Oxford University.
I’m from a working-class background, am queer and neurodivergent, so found my community in the feminist zine scene. That’s where I first fell in love with zine making, it felt like the opposite of the fairly stuffy/snobby art world, was more accessible than academic, and they can slip right into people’s hands rather than chance shouting into the void- or picky algorithms. In a very digitised world, zines can feel like escapism, both reading and making them. Grrrl Zine Fair is a space where zines can be made, celebrated or cut up and collaged. Welcome to the world of feminist zines, I hope you love it here!
Grrrl In Print
Issue 3
Issue 4
Issue 2
Issue 1
Grrrl In Print is our collaborative zine, made up of submissions, documentation of Grrrl events and contemporary feminist DIY culture alongside paid commissions. It acts as a printed guide, with writers and artists submitting tutorials, interviews artworks and advice for feminists doing it for themselves.
FAQs
How can I join a workshop?
The best way to see upcoming workshops is via the calendar on the ‘Events’ tab, as well as by keeping an eye on the Grrrl Instagram. We often travel the country working with universities, organisations and brands to host workshops, which can be booked by emailing us.
Occasionally we also host workshops at The Old Waterworks Studios, which is where we are based alongside the Grrrl Zine Library. These are often free workshops and funded by an awarding body such as Arts Council England.
Can I submit my zine to the Grrrl Zine Library?
Yes! We currently have a physical library and are building our online archive. We specifically collect zines described as ‘queer’ and ‘feminist’. If you think your zine is suitable, please email us and follow the instructions.
Can you sell my zine?
This was something we did back in the day, but can no longer facilitate. We do however, keep a constant eye out for new zines and share them on our social media channels. If you’d like us to shout about your new work, give us a DM.
You can also keep an eye out for call outs ahead of zine fairs, where we’ll be looking for stall holders.
How do I book a workshop?
We currently work with organisations, brands, charities, community groups and education partners to deliver workshops. We’d love to hear from you and can send over a workshop pack document outlining delivery options, content and fees. Lu has been delivering workshops for the past 5 years, with a ton of teaching experience so we’re also happy to develop workshops, especially for you with a variety of themes in mind.
Do you facilitate internships or work experience placements?
We currently do not have the capacity to host internships or work experience. We also care about paying people for their time, so can only fund short-term freelance work, funding and project dependent.
Occasionally we will put out a call for volunteers at a Grrrl Zine Fair event, where instead of pay you’ll be offered free entry for you and guests, and often zines or a labour exchange. If you’d like to be the first to know about next events, please sign up to our mailing list.
Can I interview you for my zine/research?
Yes! Sharing knowledge about zines and about working in the arts is super important. Due to the volume of these kinds of requests, we may take a few weeks to get back to you. Please email us.
Can I sell my zine at your next fair?
Yes! providing that your zine aligns with our values- is made by women, transgender and non-binary people is feminist and/or queer in nature, we’d love to showcase your work. We welcome new zine makers and before each event, send around detailed information including tips on pricing your zines, what you should bring on the day and accessibility info. If you want to be added to our ever-growing little black book of UK zine makers, give us an email or subscribe to our mailing list.
When’s your next event?
Good question! Check out our events tab and have a peek at the calendar. Zine fairs typically take place twice a year, and zine festivals once a year- that’s because they’re not your usual market place style fairs- there are bands and art and workshops and talks and stuff- which takes a lot of planning.
If you’d like to make an event happen, drop us an email, we’re super down to collaborate.
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“After attending your zine workshop, I feel greatly inspired by you and wish to thank you for creating such an inclusive experience and taking time to answer my questions...Thank you again for the workshop and for creating such an empowering community."
Kelly
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“The panel discussion went very well, Lu was brilliant!" "It was such a fantastic discussion, carefully and thoughtfully chaired by Lu. There were brilliant ideas around organising, archiving, capturing what is fleeting, freedom, and permenance..to name a few. Thank you so much for bringing your library as well, it was wonderful to see people looking through the collection.”
Lucy and Helen at Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
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"Lu's zine workshop was pitched perfectly for our Extended Diploma Design students. the session was pacy, exciting and really encouraged our learners to get creative and produce meaningful outcomes in a relatively short period of time."
Tadeus Blower, Cirriculum Director of Creative Industries, USP College.
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Thank you again for having us, [we] found it really inspiring and we are beyond excited to have our students experience (and hopefully enjoy) making zines!
University of Durham lecturers visiting Grrrl Zine Library in Southend for research and a zine workshop.
Make a donation.
Our events are always free and our zine library is open access. As a non-commercial project, we rely on funding to keep going. If you’ve got cash to spare, check out our shop or make a donation by clicking that lovely round button below.
Things we spend money on:
Free events, hosting zine makers, artists and crafts people sharing their skills through workshops, bands, solo artists and DJs, hiring venues, transport for equipment and staff for the lead up and on the day.
Artist commissions. We commission work via our zine Grrrl In Print and regularly work either artists, either creating banners, stickers or posters together for various community projects.
Keeping the lights on. Running costs including directors wages for 2 days a week at Artist Union rates.
Grrrl Zine Library, donations and any excess income goes back into the zine community through purchasing new issues if zine artists are unable to donate. We want to ensure the collection is diverse.
Free community workshops.