The Print Fair #1: 2022NQ

On Saturday, I attended the Print Fair at 2022NQ in The Northern Quarter. I'd never been to an event like this before so I didn't really know what to expect

It was a lot more intimate, and a lot smaller, than I thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed the fact that this event brought together a community of people and local artists. People chatted away with strangers and bonded over Kopperberg and the prints they bought. I may have got sucked in and bought a few things but I really enjoy the "handmade" and independent work. This was one of the things I enjoyed the most - there was no commercial aspect, yet there was a sort- of capitalist aspect in making money, but this was mostly to fund making more prints and further their work rather than making a profit.

This made me reflect upon the Zine fair and I think it'd be nice to create a community similar to the Print Fair. It's nice to see people interested in a less mainstream thing come together and enjoy the handmade and the lack of commercialism. As 2022NQ is one of the contenders for the Zine Fair, it was a good chance to see the space. Although small, it helped create the intimate atmosphere and a buzz of creativity.

A useful list of illustrators, artists, zinesters etc is available here.