sick and disabled zine + craft fair

JULY 21-27

A virtual zine & craft fair centering Disabled artists!

The Sick And Disabled Zine & Craft Fair (SAD Fair) is a grassroots week-long virtual craft fair centering disabled, chronically ill, Mad, and neurodivergent zinesters and artists from around the world. Now in its 5th year, this access-centered craft fair will feature free live events, workshops, virtual "tables", and a virtual sensory room. Non-Disabled allies are welcomed and encouraged to attend!

This fair is for people to display their work and build community, in a space that pushes back against popular narratives of illness and disability being inspirational or sad. The fair is free to attend, with free crafting and learning opportunities, as well as plenty of low cost zines and art to buy.

Accessibility is important to us, this includes keeping prices reasonable so everyone can enjoy the fest and bring something home with them. The fair is run by queer and trans, sick and disabled folks.

Thank you for attending!

We will see you next year! Dates and more to be announced in January 2025.

Applications for next year will open in April 2025.

why?

Our project is rooted in revolutionary love and need for community care, representation, and art. As sick and disabled queer and trans people, art is how we have explored our lives in a society that tells us we are inferior, especially as we go into the fifth year of a global pandemic that disproportionately impacts the sick and disabled community.

Many of us have been excluded from in-person craft fairs due to inaccessibility and inadequate COVID-19 safety measures. Our experiences are unique but not isolated, and our ability to find connections through art is what motivates us to pursue projects like this zine and craft fair.

Founders

Charlie is a zinester who runs the Transgender Cancer Patient Project with Roman. He creates work discussing his experience being a young trans adult with cancer and having a facial disfigurement. You can find him on instagram at: @coolrelatablecancerteen, and @transcancerzine .

October is a queer and trans/nonbinary semi-ambulatory wheelchair user based in the Bay Area, CA. It has a slew of undiagnosed disabilities and is neurodivergent in several ways. Ze makes zines, stickers, spooky decor, and tattoos! Find him on instagram, twitter, and tumblr @stonerzines or ko-fi at www.ko-fi.com/octoberstoner.

Roman also runs the Transgender Cancer Patient Project with Charlie and likes to make zines and art about their experiences with illness, gender, society, politics, and relationships. You can find them on Instagram through: @transcancerzine or @times_knew_roman.