Hiya!

This June we’re back. We’ve teamed up with long time Over Here tabler Dal Kul and Migration Matters Fest to bring a mini pop zine fest to Sheffield.

Expect zine stalls, zine making activities, zine library, badge making all with a theme on food. Celebrating our beautiful global cuisines that we cook and eat in our homes everyday.  We’ll explore what our food means to us as migrant communities, our favourite international stores, foodie memories, connections, recipes and more.

All happening on Saturday June 28th 11am-4pm at Soft ground in Sheffield.

Applications are open to Global Majority zine makers and we will prioritise those in Sheffield and surrounding areas (South Yorkshire)

APPLY HERE

It’s been two weeks since Over Here Zine Fest took place, and we’re just about recovered – we had a great day!

Stallholders, both local and from further away, came to showcase their zines and crafts, and we had a nice turn out at the Museum from attendees.

It felt great to be surrounded by amazing PoC creatives, and to see them taking up space; and to see so many people come along to visit the stalls and take part in the workshops and activities.

Through our Over Here merch sales we raised close to £50 for WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together), a Manchester-based organisation led by women seeking asylum providing a network of support across the city. Thanks to everyone who contributed! If you want to learn more about the work of WAST, or make a direct donation to them, please have a look on their website: https://www.wastmanchester.com/

Things aren’t over just yet. We have the zine-in-a-day project to complete. On the day of the Fest, anyone who wanted to, could use a blank A5 page to draw/collage/write something for a collaborative zine. Thank you to everyone who contributed. We’re putting together the pages into a zine and will share more about this soon!

A huge thanks to everyone who attended or tabled on the day and made it so special and to the lovely staff at the People’s History Museum for their support prior to the Fest and on the day itself.

We also wanted to say a massive thank you to the lovely people at Swansea Zine Fest who made a donation to us that helped to fund our workshops. Through this donation, we were able to run a workshop aimed at black/Asian/PoC/global majority participants; creating a space for people to share their experiences of friendship, and of joy as an act of resistance. The workshop was really well-attended, and we heard some lovely feedback from participants who said they loved the opportunity to share and create in a safer space with other PoC!

Over Here Zine Fest ’24 is almost here, so we thought we would share some information….

The Zine fest is Saturday 28th September 10am-4pm at People’s History Museum.
Over Here is a zine fest that creates a space for Black/Asian/POC/Global majority zine makers, artists and creators to sell and showcase their zines, comics, prints and other handmade goodies!

It’s free to attend and open to all. All workshops are also free to attend.

Full information on Stallholders and Workshops can be found be found elsewhere on the blog.

We will have some Over Here merch on the day (posters, stickers, zines and badges) with all money from sales going to WAST Manchester (Women Seeking Asylum Together)

Some things to consider….
Not all stall holders have card readers/Paypal so please bring cash.
If you are feeling unwell with Covid like symptoms, please don’t attend. You can still support the stall holders by visiting their websites etc.
If you have never heard of zines or made zines then come and get the zine bug. If are a zine maker and just love zines, come on down and show your support!

WHAT: This is a drawing and zine-making workshop that aims to guide the participants to explore visual documentation of their lives, thoughts and dreams through the format of zines. Yuxuan Zhou will share the experience of finding her own visual language as an artist and cherishing the mundane moments through self-documentation. She will presents some of her zines and guide the participants to create a personal narrative on the 8-page folded zine.
WHEN: 11:00-12:00 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 20 people. Under 16 accompanied by an adult. First time -seasoned zine makers!

Yuxuan Zhou is a London-based artist interested in exploring narratives in the form of books. She enjoys playing with colours and materials and uses them to document her daily life and bizarre dreams. She then reinterprets the stories and presents them to the audience in the form of paintings, comics and zines. She hopes her work could deliver the poetic vibe in daily life and create a temporary escape for our overwhelmed souls.
Instagram:@alibiecila @satsuki_press website: www.yuxuan-zhou.com

WHAT: In this workshop you will be learning the blueprint of writing fiction, from the 7 story types, to choosing an audience and understanding the essential character/story arc. This will help you understand the tropes of fiction writing and thus understand it better so you can get writing! You will have the freedom to use your imagination by creating your own characters and story based of ideas shown in the workshop.
WHEN: 12:30-13:30 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 15 people. Under 16 accompanied by an adult. Wannabe writers, storytellers, anyone!

I’m a South-Asian Actor, Baker and Writer from Manchester with a BA in English and History! I am also finishing off my first novel which is a YA coming of age story about a British-East-African-Asian Teen navigating girlhood and finding her identity.
Instagram: @xqueenlubbyx

WHAT: This zine-making collage workshop focuses on fostering bonds and friendships among POC. A safe space for discussion that invites participants to explore their shared experiences and mutual understanding as people of colour surrounding the theme of joy. Everyone will leave with a zine inspired by conversations – a tangible reminder of the bonds we’ve built and the creativity we’ve shared, with a focus on friendship and joy as an act of resistance.
(Participants are encouraged to bring their own images to collage, ones that bring joy or spark conversation, can be images of food, people, objects etc)
WHEN: 14:00-15:00 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 10 people, 16 years+, POC/Black/Asian/BAME/Global majority.

Pita Santos is a queer Fillopino illustrator based in Manchester. They have a multidisciplinary practice, using a blend of analogue and digital to create bright, colourful and joyful imagery. They make prints, zines and keyrings with a playful and lighthearted approach, they aim to create meaningful work to tell stories, bring people together and use creativity for good.
Instagram: @pitahpat

0.08 Imprints
0.08 Imprints designs and publishes photobooks and zines that utilise the camera as a tool for investigation, primarily studying relationships and habits that form around ourselves, others and places. Our mission is to be an accessible platform for photographers with any amount of experience to be able to submit and share work that is aesthetically conscientious, meaningful and curious
Website: 008imprints.co.uk  michaelwiggan.co.uk
Instagram: @0.08imprints @linear_skies

51 Personae
(She/her)51 Personae is a collaborative art project, publishing initiative, and cooperative platform. It started as an off-site program of the 11th Shanghai Biennale, composed of 51 events in Shanghai based on individual/group experiences/actions within the context of urban transformation (2016-17). Since 2018 onwards, it has evolved into a self-sustaining independent art publishing project, believing that publishing is both an urgent and valid artistic practice. 51 Personae places special emphasis on life experiences in Asia and the Third World, as well as marginalized voices under suppression. It collaborates with individual artists, designers, translators, collectives and self-organized social forms in Asia and beyond; exploring the contemporary forms, possibilities and potential of “realism” in art as expressive actions.
Website: 51personae.org
Instagram: @51personaeproject

Anu Ambasna
(She/They)
A London born Artist, DJ and Broadcaster. Anu’s self-taught artistic practice focuses on building worlds through her intricate hand drawn comics and publications, which act as a diary of sorts. She takes inspiration from the mundane and often difficult aspects of life, with humour centered in everything she creates. The protagonists of Anu’s comics and illustrations are sometimes strange to the eye and often center paunchy brown bodies, with themes of family, identity, music and club culture filtering through.
Instagram: @noanunoparty

Apples to Zines
(They/Them)
Jacq makes zines on a variety of subjects like Bullying, Homelessness and Tackling Biphobia. They also make zines about Useless Advice, Sci Fi and Blackness, and How to swear like a professional!
Website: writteninshadows.wordpress.com
Instagram: @SoOverTheRainbow

Brandon Sked
(He/Him)
Brandon Sked is a London-based comic creator and illustrator who uses pen and ink and sometimes a typewriter to create his work.
Website: brandonsked.com
Instagram: @brandonsked

Dal Kular & Sheree Mack
(She/Her)
Dal makes perzines on race, creativity, nature, memory and identity. Sheree makes zines on similar themes from the perspective of a Black Woman in nature, as well as the Black Nature in Residence zine (3 issues), a collaborative zine. Both make one off zines too. Dal also makes journals, notebooks, cartonera and badges as liberatory and anti-colonial archival practice. Sheree and Dal both have visual journaling practices.
Instagram: @dalkular @shereemackwrites

Demi A D
(They/them)
Demi A-D is a queer artist based out of Birmingham. They make zines and art about gender, queerness, race, protest, and anything else that grabs their attention.
Instagram: @endy__enby

Fajar
(She/Her)
Fajar Kayani is a multidisciplinary artist and curator based in Manchester. The nature of her art is intuitive; capturing feelings, objects and moments in time through different mediums, ranging from photography and collage to printing and zine making. Engaging with the community in any way she can is vital to her practice – she has participated in many peer-led projects, mainly focused on empowerment, social justice, and equality.
Website: fajarkayani.com
Instagram: fajkart

Isa & Lily Seminega
(she/her)
We’re a family of readers celebrating inclusive children’s books. We write zines about books we’re obsessed with, Black culture and all things creative. We also make illustrated products for book lovers
Wesbite: gloriousreads.com
Instagram: @gloriousreads

Lou Robbin
(They/Them)
Lou is a multidisciplinary artist, creative producer, and wellbeing practitioner with a particular interest in mental health, performance, and producing innovative participatory projects and events. Centring care at the core of their work, Lou utilises their creativity to explore themes such as personal and structural change, identity and heritage, and togetherness. Lou will be sharing a few zines, stickers, and some essential oil candles.
Website: runoffs.co.uk
Instagram: @lourobbin_

Made by Katie
(She/Her)
Hello, I’m Katie from made by katie. I create fun prints, zines, stickers, and more! My work often revolves around themes like weird cats and animals, food, culture, and mental health.
Instagram: @kryanggg

Melissa
(She/Her)
Zines about pop culture, crushes, and generally just loving stuff.

Nabila
(she/her)
Hello! I’m Nabila, a PhD student in Sociology. I started zine making just over a year ago and usually make personal mini-zines with poetry or short stories. But I also want to explore zine making as a creative method of research and so I have helped create collective zines as part of projects I have worked on, where groups of people come together to work on zine pages.
Website: nabilacruz.com
Instagram: @ninavoluminosa

Pita
(They/She/He)
I am a queer Filipino illustrator based in Manchester. I have a multidisciplinary practice, using a blend of analogue and digital to create bright, colourful, and joyful imagery. With a playful and light-hearted approach, I aim to create meaningful work to tell stories, bring people together, and use creativity for good.
Instagram: @pitahpat

Rain Bug Studio
(She/Her)wholesome stickers, prints and zines, that feel like home!
Instagram: @rainbugstudio

Ray Felix Carter
(They/Them)Ray Felix Carter is a Black trans artist who makes silly little zines and comics about friendship, feelings, and being a little guy. Theyre also selling new self-published collections of their poetry and some experimental tabletop mini-games.
Website: www.rayfelixcarter.com
Instagram: @rayfelixcarter

Seleena Laverne Daye
(She/Her)
Seleena has been making zines for over 20 years. Her zines are mostly about race, class, queerness and fandom.
When not making zines she works in retail, delivers crafty workshops, sews, tap dances and eats a lot of crisps.
Website: seleenalavernedaye.co.uk
Instagram:@seleenalavernedaye

Sharonjit Kaur Sutton
(She/Her)
Sharonjit is an Artist, Graphic Designer and Silly Billy from Birmingham. Her most recent scribbles depict birds and other creatures doing a manner of absurd things. She will be selling prints, zines, stickers and other paraphernalia.
Website: etsy.com/shop/ideasloadingmakes
Instagram: @ideasloading

Shazleen Khan
(They/Them)Shazleen Khan is an illustrator making comics in both traditional publishing and indie spaces. They are the author of award winning lgbtq webcomic, BUUZA!! and also produce a variety of short comics and zines.
Website: www.shazleenkhan.com
Instagram: @shazleen.jpeg

Spotted Journal
(She/her)
Jenny is a British-born-Chinese (BBC) writer & illustrator who is passionate about travel, food, and meaningful conversations. She runs a sketch club in Manchester called ‘Sketch And Cafe’ and recently started taking her art seriously after having worked over 10 years in the stationery, arts & craft buying industry. So what does it take to become an established picture book maker starting in your mid-30s in the 21st century? What zines will she make? Follow her art journey….
Instagram: @spottedjournal
Youtube: Spottedjournal

Two Little Points
(She/Her)
Two Little Points creates joyful, colourful illustrations inspired by nature, animals and foods. Our work spans picture books, editorial, social media, and now crafting & zines, spreading positivity.
Instagram: @twolittlepoints

Yetunde Ekuntuyi
(She/Her)
Yetunde is a cartoonist and illustrator based in the UK. She draws cute and whimsical characters and enjoys writing comics about feelings. Alongside her comics she also creates joyful stickers and prints.
Website: patreon.com/readbearuniverse
Instagram: @redbearuniverse_

Yuxuan Zhou
(She/Her)Yuxuan Zhou is a London-based artist who celebrate the tactility of materials and joy of colours. She works on fashion illustration, picture books and comics and love to explore various forms of books in presenting her work. She wants bring the poetic yet otherworldly experience to the audience through her zines and drawings
Website: yuxuan-zhou.com
Instagram: @alibiecila

Last Saturday – a visit to Nottingham for Kim Thompson’s solo exhibition, Water into Wine, at the New Art Exchange (NAE). It’s curated by Saziso Phiri.

Kim is a Nottingham artist who mostly works in paint and digital illustration. We are big fans, and seeing her work on this scale was extra special.

The newly commissioned series opens up the experiences of Afro Caribbeans from Nottingham. It’s beautiful.

Each painting had a story attached, which came out through conversations between Kim and local residents (some are her family members) and through sharing and reminiscing with photos. 

The black joy jumps out from each painting, the every day experience of us just living and doing us. 

One huge piece, based on a school photo from the 1960s, shows Kim’s aunt as a child, front and centre…there she is, looking relaxed and proud; from the accompanying story, we can read that she belonged there, she excelled, and it comes across in the painting, classmates and teachers are patchy, the memories of them have faded. It made me think of my dad, who was at school on the south coast at the same time. In his class photo, he stands out as the only black face.

It also made me think of that universal sense of looking at old school photos where your younger self is lined up alongside people you’ll probably never see again, and there’s little you, the main character in your story. 

Another piece, of a person called Donna with two of her horses, is full of reds and greens and brown, and had a gentle feeling of celebration that we rarely get to see in black art.

There were others, just as beautiful and warm: of Kims parents, of a mum and daughter sitting happily in the grass, of two brothers boxing, of a celebration with a frosted cake…it’s so cool to see and read about the life experiences of the black community in this way.

The exhibition ends this Sunday (24th August) so try and make it down to NAE if you can! 

(Also, the soundtrack in the exhibition so good and had us swaying in appreciation).

Melissa

@kimthompson.art

@new_art_exchange

That’s right, Over Here Zine Fest is back!
Saturday 28th September 2024, 10am-4pm at People’s History Museum, for a day of zines, making, supporting and creatives of colour taking up space!

Peculiar Portraits
Alison Erika Forde (and family) (she/her)
11-12

Let your imagination flow and your silly side show, creating mixed media Peculiar Portraits from all sorts of collage papers and stamps!

All ages (under 12 accompanied by an adult)
Capacity 16

Alison Erika Forde is a is a visual artist/maker/painter exploring her mixed heritage, motherhood, class, the male gaze and northern-ness through art and zines.

Mindfulness & Poetry
Radhaika Kapur
12.30-1.30

A relaxed workshop where you can participate in 2 grounding exercises, read inspiring poetry exploring the senses and write your own short piece about a vivid memory.

Age 14+ capacity 7

Radhaika Kapur is a poet, facilitator and communications specialist based in Manchester. She has been writing and performing for over 10 years and has been published in anthologies including Sobotka and Lacuna Lit, as well as recently headlining the Levenshulme poetry night ‘Words with Friends’. In July 2023 Radhaika completed the Breathworks Mindfulness Champions course and is enthusiastic about sharing this practice with others.

Protest Poster making
Dal Kalur & PHM
2.00-3.15

Come and have a sneak peak at some protest posters in the People’s History Museum collection ahead of a Poster Exhibition next year. Discuss the posters and the techniques used to make them, before designing your own protest poster.

Age 14+

Capacity 16

(mentions of colonialism and racism within the posters)

All workshops are free to attend and work on a first come first served basis. Priority will be given to those from the global majority.

Over is back! Saturday 30th September at People’s History Museum in Manchester, 10am-4pm. This year we have over 25 stalls selling zines, crafts, prints, badges and more plus community stalls and workshops!

Micheal Wiggan /0.08 Imprints
0.08 works with a range of emerging photographers from around the world. We design and publish projects that utilise the camera as a tool for investigation, primarily studying relationships and habits that form around ourselves, others and places. Our mission is to be an accessible platform for photographers with any amount of experience to be able to submit and share work that is aesthetically conscientious, meaningful and curious.
I: @0.08imprints  Web: 0.08imprints.co.uk

Safrana Art (She/Her)
My Zines are an extension of my sketchbook – pattern and illustration heavy – themes include mental health, plant affirmations, hairy diaries and the confusions I come across when I tell people I’m an Indian Muslim.
I: @safranaart

Yamahighway (they/them)
yamahighway is a duo artist group, our works inspired by the essence of spaces and events we experienced. We do prints, zines, small crafts and so on!
I: @yamahighway

Tiny Bell Studios (She/Her)
I create prints, stickers, zines and pins that are bubbly and sweet.
I: @tinybellstudios  Web: leannerosebell.wixsite.com/portfolio

Commonword
Commonword is a writing development organisation nurturing and supporting new writers, providing a springboard to literary success. We run creative writing workshops, events and publish a diverse range of voices through our imprint Crocus.
I: @cultureword  Web: cultureword.org.uk

Mits Makes (she/her)
Mitra (Mits Makes) is a Malaysian multidisciplinary artist based in Edinburgh, passionate about creating small, quirky and colourful zines, just like her! Mits’ zines are a medium of radical expression; they embrace and empower various themes including sexuality, disability and cultural heritage. Expect vibrant zines that serve as a testament to self-acceptance and self-expression.
I: @mitsmakes  Web: ko-fi.com/mitsmakes

Pennycress (Jenessa) (she/her)
Founded in Leeds in 2019 by Jenessa Williams, Pennycress is an anthology zine designed to champion and celebrate the work of creatives of colour who are based in the North of England. Each issue features illustration, photography, poetry, personal essays and more, providing racial solace, community and inspiration.

Reina (She/Her)
A Japanese woman who makes zines about her heritage and culture, as well as film photography.
I: @reina.kos

Dal Kular (She/Her)
Dal Kular is a writer, zinester and facilitator of creative and nature-allied writing arts for healing, liberation and joy. She left school at 16 years old with 3 O-levels having been told she could never be a writer – returning to the power of words in her late forties – as an act of radical care and healing. Her debut poetry book (un)interrupted tongues, published by Fly on The Wall Press, emerged from a zine she created during her masters dissertation about the therapeutic and healing powers of zine-making. She loves making zines, botanical journals, is an allotment keeper and loves roaming the Peak District in her tiny campervan. She’s currently working on an archival justice commission with Dig Where You Stand, Sheffield and is Peaks of Colour 2024 Writer-in-residence where zines, therapeutic writing and nature will be mashed up into something gorgeous.She lives in Sheffield. I: @dalkular  Web: dalkular.com   dalkular.substack.com

Anuhya Saxena (she/Her)
I Am a Fashion Art Direction Student at Manchester Metropolitan University. Specialising in Photography. I produced Coconut Zine as a platform for British South Asian Young people to explore their dual identity as well as learn more about British South Asian history.
I: @coconut.zine

Sharp Txngue (she/her)
I am Olamide Florence Adeoye (Sharp Txngue), a queer, neurodivergent illustrator, comic artist and storyteller based in Manchester, UK. My illustration practice is inspired in part by my love of cartoons, graphic novels and sitcoms, where the makers create visual hyperbole building upon moments from everyday life like I do in my stories. I have 2 comic zines about my cat – Midas and the Post-Breakfast Panic (2022) and Midas and the Insatiable Appetite (2023) – and will be releasing my first longer comic, Snacks in November 2023.My stories centre and portray Black, queer and neurodivergent lives by showing the fun and silliness that exists like in my comic zines and the deep ways in which we – people who are often marginalised in society – connect and build lives around one another.

Zindabad/ Cia (she/Her)
Cia is a poet and producer who founded and edited Zindabad Zine, a London-based print mag for diaspora creatives across the world.
I: @zindabadzine  web: zindabadzine.bigcartel.com

Seleena Laverne Daye (she/her)
Seleena has been making zines for over 20 years. Her zines are mostly about race, class, queerness and fandom.
When not making zines she works in retail, delivers crafty workshops, sews, tap dances and eats a lot of crisps.
I: @seleenalavernedaye web: seleenalavernedaye.co.uk

Skate or Sew (She/her)
I’m from Kettering, east Midlands. I skateboard, make zines, and crafty bits. Current obsession is working with clay.
I: @skateorsew

Melissa (she/her)
Zines about pop culture, crushes, and generally just loving stuff.

Glorious Reads (she/her)
We’re a family of readers celebrating inclusive children’s books. We write zines about books we’re obsessed with, Black culture, and all things creative. We also make illustrated products for book lovers.
I: @gloriousreads

Jacq A(they /them)
I make zines on social justice issues such as bullying, racism in progressive spaces and ageing. I also make light hearted zines on Useless Advice, Swearing for fun and drunken bible stories!
I: @SoOverTheRainbow YT: @teammeteamus.8315

Riddhesh Ghadi
I make zines and posters that make an attempt at documenting lives of queer on daily basis.
I: @riddheshghadi

Skear Zines
Skear Zines responds to the writers we work with. It aims to resist homogenisation, and celebrate querenesse. It wants to give space to those voices that might not fit into traditional publishing models, voices that have been sidelined or as yet unheard, voices that have small (yet big) things to say, voices that will sing in unconventional forms.
skearzines.wordpress.com

Queer Muslims of Manchester
Manchester based group providing advice, support and information for Muslims who identify as LGBTQ+
I: @queermuslimsofmanchester  qmon.co.uk

Kids of Colour
Kids of Colour is a project for young people of colour aged 24 and under to explore ‘race’, identity and culture. We create spaces that to challenge the racism that affects young people and their communities; building collective resistance and solidarity.

I: @kidsofcolourhq  kidsofcolour.com

Full workshop information coming soon!

With just one week until the big day (we hope you are as excited as we are) we thought what better time to announce the workshops we will have on the day….

11.00am-12.00pm Block Printing Postcards
Learn how to use block printing to create your own postcards. This will involve drawing up a design, carving it out into a block of lino, rolling on the ink and printing out your cards. materials provided and all skill levels welcome.
Led by Jay
Instagram: @greenjaycrafts
All ages, under 18’s need adult supervision

12.30pm-1.30pm Poetry Workshop
Poetry is a great way to express yourself and perfect for sharing in zines. Poet Radhaika Kapur from Manchester writing organisation Commonword Cultureword will help you get creative with words.
Expect a hopeful climate change poetry workshop inspired by natural forms. You can then turn your work into a zine at the drop in zine making session. No previous experience needed.
Suitable for ages 8+
led by Commonword Cultureword
cultureworld.org.uk

2.00pm-3.00pm What’s Names Got To Do With It?
Artist Sharonjit Kaur Sutton is inviting everyone to an open discussion aboutnames, and to create their own zines around this theme. What do our namesmean? Where have they come from? Why do they matter? Do they matter? Whydo we change them? You can share stories of your own, or someone you know -or you might just feel like having a chat!This is inspired by Sharonjit’s personal project called His Name’s Not Charlie,which started with the story of her Grandad (Ranjinder Singh Gill) who migratedfrom Kenya to London in the 1970s but was given the name “Charlie” by his British friends and colleagues – which raised interesting conversations about how
names hold a person’s, and community’s, history and identity.
Led by Sharonjit
Instagram: @ideasloading
All ages, under 18’s need adult supervision

(ALL WORKSHOPS ARE FREE TO ATTEND. NO NEED TO SIGN UP. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, PRIORITY WIL BE FOR ATTENDEES WHO ARE BLACK/ASIAN/POC)

We will also have an all ages activity table running 11am-3pm featuring one page zine making and colouring in!