DIY Cultures is an annual day festival centred around a zine, small press and artists’ book fair that simultaneously takes place over 4 floors of Rich Mix arts centre. Running since 2013, the extended programme consists of exhibitions, new art commissions, workshops, contemporary craft, panel discussions,comics, illustration, video art, digital animation, poetry and music exploring DIY practice.

The festival has established itself as a leading national forum for artists-run initiatives, social justice and alternative publishing,
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#DIY2017 is the 5th year of DIY Cultures
www.diycultures.tumblr.com

VIDEO OF DIY Cultures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGR3eRJzT1k&feature=youtu.be

Themes this year include Radical Mental Health, Introvert Resistance, Shy Radicals, Resisting Crap Jobs, Four Day Working Week, History of Black Arts Magazines, Brexit, Theresa May & the Others and more … CHECK THIS #DIY2017

https://twitter.com/DIYCulturesFair #DIY2017
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CALL FOR ZINES, ARTISTS’ BOOKS, ILLUSTRATION, COMICS AND DISTROS.

Stall Application Form- http://diycultures.tumblr.com/apply

The zine fair at DIY Cultures is spread across four venues in the Rich Mix and hosts over 90 exhibitors ranging from artists, illustrators, comic book makers, activists and small-press publishers.
Table space is £11 for half a 6ft trestle table. There will be a FREE communal table for people with one-off zines to sell. No need to apply for table space, just bring your zines to the DIY desk on the day! We also welcome applications from people based outside of London and internationally.

Deadline: Friday 24th February 2017

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The festival has become a flagship event for Rich Mix gaining record-breaking audience figures of over 1500 in a day. This year, accompanying the festival is a one month exhibition “DIY Knowledge”. Special art commissions for the event include short films, interactive technology and a sculptor / architect designing a communal table.

The event is produced by a core team of Sofia Niazi (editor of Muslim women’s creative journal OOMK), curator Hamja Ahsan and artist Helena Wee of Other Asias. In comparison to other book fairs, DIY Cultures distinguishes itself by by its commitment to new voices, people of colour empowerment and centralising subcultures such as prisoner art, alternative mental health and Muslim diasporas.

The international scope of the festival extends to creatives from places such as Malaysia, Bangladesh and Lebanon, redefining the landscape of DIY practice beyond Europe and America. The curators have also partnered with institutions such Iniva’s Stuart Hall Library, George Padmore Institute, Asian artist book producer Raking Leaves and Feminist Library to uncover marginalised and forgotten histories of independent publishing

DIY Cultures has also collaborated with courses and students from leading education institutions such as Centre for Print Research at UWE Bristol, MA Book Arts at Camberwell College of Arts and Central Saint Martins new Art and Science MA. The curators also explore links with new technologies and science collaborating with London Biohackspace, women’s computer collective Deep Lab and Black Girl Tech.

Every year the festival features over 150 artists, social organisations and creatives, with over 90 stalls representing the best of contemporary independent publishing. The ethos of the festival means diverse emerging artists exhibit alongside more established artists on an equal platform, and is noted for open routes of access. The talks programme sets the agenda on critical debates on arts and social exclusion. The workshops, led by practicing artists, writers and organisations, offer audiences hands-on participation in craft-based art-making for the first time. The communal table offers upcoming creatives a pathway for free participation.

FOR INTERVIEWS / PRESS contact: diycultures: email us: diycultureszac@gmail.com

Poster by Sofia Niazi