Posted By Anne Drozd on July 31, 2010

The Up! Fair will be a totally free event to the public, but that doesn’t mean that it will be inexpensive to put the show together.

If you believe, as we do, that local events like ours are crucial to promoting independent content creators, and that sharing information is crucial to elevating an art form, we hope you will contribute by pledging to our fundraiser on Kickstarter!

We’ve put together different packages to thank those who provide material support to the event, including:

• Yearly subscriptions to Art & Story Supreme
• Ink Blob plushies
• Screen printed posters
• Ink sketches from the Up! Fair steering committee
• And more!

Check out our Kickstarter page for more information and how you can contribute.

Our deepest thanks to those who have pledged so far. We’ve reached our initial funding goal, but we can still use more for things like advertising and other promotional materials to be distributed at the show.

If you can’t contribute funding, you can help us out in a big way by blogging about us or posting links to our event on Twitter or Facebook.

And don’t forget–there’s still time to apply for a table at the fair! Deadline is August 15!

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Posted By Anne Drozd on July 29, 2010

We’re calling on you to help us in our mission to celebrate independent creators and self-publishers!

In order to cover our operating costs, we’ll be auctioning off artwork from guests and co-organizers of the event. If you’d like to donate a piece of original artwork for the auction, you can send it here:

Cricket Press
PO Box 21952
Lexington, KY
40522-1952

A piece donated by Kim Holm for the Kids Read Comics convention art auction

No need to frame the piece or prepare it in any way. Just send it in sturdy packaging with your name and website info clearly indicated so we can credit you as a supporter of the show. The piece can be anything you wish; a piece of brand-new artwork that promotes our theme of independence, or a page from a comics or illustration project you’ve worked on in the past. We only ask that the piece not feature any characters from any established publishers. The artwork will be auctioned off on the Up! Fair website. Deadline for donations is November 1st, 2010.

But that’s not the only way to lend a hand!

You can help us demonstrate the wonderfully diverse world of entertainment in self-publishing by donating a copy or two of your own work. We’re accepting any independently published comics, mini-comics, or prose books to be distributed to the guests of the event as well as the general public. You can send any donated books to the address above.

All material supporters of the event will get a mention on our “Friends of the Up! Fair” page along with our undying gratitude. So don’t forget to include your website information!

And thanks in advance for your support of the Up! Fair!

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Posted By Anne Drozd on June 3, 2010

We’re pleased to announce that we’re accepting applications to table at the Up! Fair!

Much like other craft and art fairs with limited space, this will be a juried event. This means that we, the organization committee, will evaluate all applications and select a finite number to receive table space.

The table fee for selected applicants will be $50 for a full table (6′x2′), or $30 for a half table. More information on table fees and what costs they cover follows below the registration form.

What we’re looking for in an applicant: Self-publishers who demonstrate original and independent thinking not only in the work itself, but also in how they package and promote it. Perhaps most importantly, we’re interested in people who like to share their knowledge and skill set in the form of a hands-on workshop or demonstration at the event.

If this describes you, please check out our application page and follow the instructions. You can ask any questions via our contact page.

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Posted By Jerzy on January 2, 2010

We’re thrilled to announce that November 20, 2010 will mark the first annual UP! Fair at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Kentucky!

This fair will be a free public event designed to celebrate independent creators, their works, and their philosophy. More than anyone else in creative industries, they are the ones who push the boundaries of their mediums, explore and invent new business models, and the most willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

While we have yet to announce all of the details of the event, here are a few things you can expect to see there:

• An exhibition floor featuring independently published authors and cartoonists.
• Free hands-on workshops and demonstrations led by the guest cartoonists and authors, open to the public.
• Professional development workshops for independent creators.

In this way the UP! Fair will be part convention, part conference, and part art fair. Add those three elements together, and we think it’ll add up to a lot of fun.

Please check back (or subscribe to our RSS feed) for updates, as we announce our guest list, programming schedule, and open up registration for exhibitors. You can contact us with any questions via our convenient contact page.

If you believe in events like this, you can help spread the word by posting about us on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog! You can use the handy link banners below. More link banners are available here.

We look forward to seeing you this November in Lexington! Keep looking up!

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