Announcing the Victoria Anarchist Bookfair on September 23rd – 24th

Announcing the Victoria Anarchist Bookfair on September 23rd and 24th. For more information, go here.

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair is an annual gathering of anarchist and anarchist adjacent booksellers, presses, and authors, including zinesters and other intrepid self-publishing individuals and groups. We also, on a case by case basis, consider applications of artists and artisans working in a variety of mediums who promote anarchist values. Finally, we foster relationship building by including participation by anarchist and anti-authoritarian activist and cultural organisations.

When: September 23 & 24, 2023
Where: Fernwood NRG Community Centre
More info: https://victoriaanarchistbookfair.ca/

STATEMENT OF INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair Collective aims to demonstrate solidarity with Indigenous peoples throughout the world by supporting the varied ways they assert their cultural and political autonomy. To uphold our responsibility within this solidarity relationship, we must name colonialism, capitalism, and state power as forces that obstruct our aims for justice. We recognize these struggles of resistance have a long history: colonialism today is not disconnected from the past but is connected to present reality through the ongoing attempt to remove Indigenous peoples from their lands, whether unceded or shared through treaties, and undermine the sovereignty and authority of traditional Indigenous self-governance systems and lifeways.

Locally, we have witnessed the resurgence of the Songhees and Esquimalt peoples, whose overlapping territories the city of Victoria occupies. These, and other communities with ancestral relationships to their lands, winds, and waters around the globe, show us better systems of decision making, along with better ways of living together and with the land. We support, and aim to walk alongside, Indigenous struggle and Indigenous sovereignty.

Interested in organising a Festival of Anarchy event the week before the bookfair? All proposals need only be discussed and approved at a bookfair collective meeting, and if accepted, are considered autonomous from, but coinciding with the bookfair.

Email us your Festival Proposals!
info(a)victoriaanarchistbookfair.ca

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair Collective affirms and promotes mutual aid, direct democracy, direct action, anti-authoritarianism, autonomy and solidarity. We reiterate our opposition to capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy, heterosexism, racism, colonialism, statism and all other forms of oppression; we will not accept participants in the Victoria Anarchist Bookfair who perpetuate or promote such values.

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair is a space to network, highlight, and aid struggles, both local and international. We strive to promote anarchist ideas through workshops, cultural activities and the bookfair itself. We have a spirit of openness towards different anarchist traditions, visions, and practices.

Our aims are threefold:

1. to introduce anarchism to the public,

2. to further elaborate upon current and historical anarchist ideals, and

3. to foster dialogue between various anarchist tendencies.

PARTICIPANTS

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair’s priorities concentrate upon the written & spoken word (books, pamphlets, zines, audio-visual materials) by individuals and groups including publishers, distributors, and action-oriented associations. We also accept, on a case-by-case basis, information and participation from community/activist groups, self-publishers, artists and vendors of materials such as buttons, T-shirts or patches who fit within these principles. We do not accept the participation of political parties or candidates in the bookfair.

PROCESS

Decisions are made by consensus at Victoria Anarchist Bookfair Collective meetings. Projects planned for the Festival of Anarchy need only be discussed and agreed to at a Bookfair collective meeting, at which point they are autonomous.

ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFER SPACE GUIDELINES

If you have any concerns during the Bookfair, volunteers sitting at the welcome table are available for assistance.

The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair Collective actively strives to create an accessible event. We aim to avoid replicating the barriers in society that exclude and marginalize people. In line with our principles, we organize the Bookfair to challenge exclusions deriving from social oppression. We maintain:

*A policy of no alcohol or other drugs and we ask all participants to respect this and help us ensure our relationship with the venue remains solid.

*Wheelchair access to events: the hall is fully wheelchair accessible, as are the bathrooms on both levels of the bookfair.

* An event free of smoke, nuts, and perfumes/scents, to enable a kid-friendly and accessible event for people who might have allergies, including allergies that are life threatening.

*Journalists are escorted and ask permission before taking pictures.

* Respect everyone’s privacy: before taking pictures and/or posting them online, ask for permission.

*All pets must remain outside and on leash. Only service/working dogs are welcome inside and must stay near their human at all times.

* Free Admittance: donations are gratefully accepted and all money supports future bookfairs.

ABOUT THE SPACE

Fernwood NRG is fully wheelchair accessible. The main entrance contains two sets of two glass doors. They are automatic with the press of a button. Entry to the gym entrance on the lower level is gained through two windowless doors that are left open, depending on weather. There is a carpeted ramp to gain access from the lower level to the upper level and it is wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Lighting in the NRG space is fluorescent tubes. Signs will be posted on how to get to workshop space and tabler space. Tables are arranged to allow room for wheelchairs. A vegan meal will be served by Food not Bombs free of charge. Parking is available on the street by the main entrance, and below by the gym for people who have trouble walking long distances. Bus 22 will drop you off 200m east of the venue on Fernwood St. Seats provided for workshops are wooden without arm rests. Some workshops fill up to standing room only, we ask that folks prioritize seating for people that need it.
in Conclusion

The dynamics of hierarchy, power and privilege that exist within society are also found among us. People participating in the Bookfair are asked to be aware of their language and behavior, and to think about whether it might be oppressive to others. The Bookfair is no space for violence, racism, ageism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, sizism, or touching another person without consent. Acting in a way that perpetuates oppression, including through language, will not be tolerated.

People participating should be aware of how they are presenting them self to insure their choice of atheistic is not of cultures other than their own. The bookfair acknowledges that cultural heritage and identity is not always visible, we will not be discriminating based on appearance.

Our attempts to equalize access are made within the limits of current resources and therefore may not be perfect. However, we welcome suggestions for improvement and will do our best to implement them.

Questions?
Email: [email protected]

photo: Miles Loewen via Unsplash