About EBABZ
EBABZ (East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest) is an annual festival for writers, artists, makers, and everyone who creates or appreciates zines and alternative books. We strive to make EBABZ reflect the diversity, vibrance, and sense of community of the East Bay. Each year over 100 zinesters gather at the fest to share their wares, meet new friends and collaborators, and have an amazing time! We hope to see you at this year’s fest!
Donate & Volunteer
EBABZ is an entirely volunteer-run not-for-profit organization. In addition to the time, labor, and creativity of volunteer organizers, we rely on tabler fees, community funding, and visitor donations to keep the fest running and vibrant from year to year. If you love zines and want to support the arts in the East Bay, please consider making a donation or getting involved!
History
In 2010, two Bay Area writers/zinesters decided it was time the East Bay had its own indie media celebration modeled on the amazing work people were doing in San Francisco and Portland. Tomas Moniz and MK Chavez organized the first East Bay Alternative Press Book Fair. It was a wonderful experience and a huge success, bringing over 50 participants into Berkeley City College. In 2011, Brooke Appler created the flyer and helped organize the event. Again the tables went quickly, with over 60 vendors and artists participating, and attendance doubled. In 2012, Tomas teamed up with the amazing Rock Paper Scissors Collective. Collective member Ara and volunteers Jamie, Olivia, and Crystal helped the event grow to new heights! That year also came with a new name: East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Festival, or EBABZ ("e-babes") Fest for short.
Safe Space Policy
The East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest (EBABZ) aims to positively support, contribute to, and highlight the diverse creative communities represented in the East Bay, in particular, zinesters and artists who are Black, Indigenous, other people of color, queer, trans, and/or disabled. Further, EBABZ strives to create a welcoming, engaging, accessible, and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behaviors, and language and to be a safe space for all vendors, patrons, volunteers, and passersby. To work toward this standard, EBABZ prohibits and will not tolerate the following:
Prejudiced and/or unwelcome behaviors and actions stemming from institutionalized oppression such as, but not limited to:
Racism
Sexism
Classism
Ableism
Homophobia
Transphobia
Zionism
Misogyny
Theft and/or destruction of money or personal/professional property
Distribution and/or exhibition of material that elicits, promotes, or defends hate speech or other forms of institutionalized oppression
Non-consensual contact/conduct/harassment that causes participants or attendees to feel distressed or unsafe
In the spirit of collaboratively creating a safer space, we ask that all participants and attendees agree to practice to the following guidelines:
Respect people’s physical and emotional boundaries and ask for consent (such as before taking a photo, etc).
Respect people’s opinions, beliefs, and different states of being or points of view.
Be responsible for your actions, and be aware of the effect they may have on others, regardless of original intent.
Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee before or during the fest, EBABZ Fest volunteers and organizers will be available to listen to these concerns and find a solution that is in the best interests of the community and the maintenance of a safe space. Volunteers and organizers reserve the right to ask any attendees who violate this policy to address their behavior or language, or, when no other remedy is available, leave the event.
EBABZ will strive to provide this safe space policy and all accessibility information prior to the events including (but not limited to):
Transportation information
All-gender restroom availability
Wheelchair access and other forms of accessibility
COVID precautions
Scent levels
Supports for parents/caregivers
EBABZ welcomes any and all inquiries or comments regarding our events—you can contact us at ebabzfest@gmail.com.
Adapted from the Chicago Zine Fest Safer Space Policy and the Bay Area Queer Zine Fest Safer Space Policy. Updated October 2024.
