HOLD FAST Zine Market 2025
Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl
“We are a community arts organization from Mount Pearl and we welcome anyone and everyone to explore their creativity at our low-key events. We’re bringing Zines, mini drawings, little collages, and encouragement cards.”
If AAMP was an emoji, they’d be a gold star! 
August C
August (they/them) is a poet, playwright, and workshop facilitator from St. John’s NL. They cohost Spoken Word St. John’s poetry open mic once a month at the LSPU Hall where they also perform. August has been published in a variety of publications such as Riddle Fence, Ink and Marrow, Janus Unbound, Salt Pages, and Acta Victoriana.
“I have a new chapbook that will be coming out, called I Can’t Imagine A Universe Where I Don’t Love You. It’s full of trans/non binary poems.”
If August were an emoji, they would be 
Best Friend Zines
Best Friend Zines is a collab between Tangiene & Hulk Caesar! Hulk is the producer and co-host of The Hulk Caesar Show (www.hulkshow.com); a weekly entertainment video show that features local talent. He works at the Majestic Theatre. Tangiene is a visual artist who loves to eat Birdie’s pastries on Saturday mornings and is obsessed with her pets.
Hulk is in the process of a series of zines containing pages from his 1996 high school agenda. This year’s issue, Volume 3, features photos taken at the Avalon Mall in 1995. Hulk hopes to find some of the folks working in the photos. Tangiene makes cute zines featuring her drawings of cats, dogs and chosen family.
If they were emojis, Hulk would be
and Tangiene would be 
Downtown Comics
Since 1997, Downtown Comics has been the friendliest Comic Book Store in St. John’s, NL. Pioneered by comics-enthusiast and Spider Man-fan Jason Conway, the business is proud to continue his legacy with a welcoming atmosphere and a wide range of new and back issue comics, NL and critical literature, collectible figures, board games, graphic novels, manga, trading cards, and more!
“We will be offering a variety of comics and zines from small publishers and local creators.”
If Downtown Comics was an emoji, they’d be a spiderweb 
Heavy Sweater Comics
“Heavy Sweater Comics is a local publisher of comics and graphic novels, based right here in Newfoundland. We’ll have our full line up of local comics and graphic novels on hand, as well as a selection of mini comics and art!”
If they were an emoji, they would be a hamburger
Karin Murray-Bergquist
Karin Murray-Bergquist (she/he/they) is an artist, writer, and actor currently studying for a PhD in folklore at MUN. Along with the study of ghost ship legends in the waters off of Newfoundland, they are fascinated by all things Arctic and Antarctic, and would gladly talk at length on the adventures of Jean-Baptiste Charcot or the history of the kraken. Karin is currently working on a new adaptation of Frankenstein for the stage.
“Most of this work will consist of sketches from various corners of the world, primarily the Antarctic — the main zine I have made so far is Antarctic Sketches, a collection of images from different expeditions of history. However, my works are eclectic and I also hope to sell some watercolours!”
“If I were an emoji, I would be those two hearts that make me feel like a Time Lord” 
MUN Students 4 Palestine
MUN Students 4 Palestine (MS4P) is a student group dedicated to pressuring Memorial University to end their complicity in the Israeli occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine. They are committed to raising awareness and building strong egalitarian networks of activists within the community. They use diverse methods to work towards these goals, including educational teach ins and workshops, direct action, art installations, and collaboration with other community groups.
“MS4P will be bringing a variety of zines to zine fest, including several zines and flyers created by our members, and some freely available open source informational materials. We may also have some other treats, such as bracelets, book marks, and prints 
“
“Given our diverse activities and membership, we absolutely could not be pigeon holed into one emoji 
the best I can do is: 
”
The Art of Being Black
“TABB is a project-focused organization geared towards supporting artists’ professional development. TABB plans and executes projects that artists can directly work on and be compensated for. The organization is committed to creating spaces and opportunities for Black artists and creators to thrive while promoting greater understanding, appreciation, and celebration of Black art and culture. We strive to contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant cultural landscape for all community members through our exhibitions, publications, community events, educational programs, and collaborations.”
Stop by HFZ to pick up zines about The Art of Being Black and their recent art exhibition, ROOTED – and be sure to say hi to TABB Board Member Rachel Gilbert (she/her) who will be staffing their table!
Website: www.theartofbeingblack.org
toothcut journal
“toothcut is the newest and weirdest literary journal this side of St. John’s. we believe in the beauty of starting out. that is to say, we embrace the messy, the passionate, the learning, and the doing-their-bests. toothcut aims to prioritize emerging writers, especially BIPOC and queer voices from Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland and Labrador). we do accept submissions from mainlanders, but we have a preference for giving page space to locals–we think our province is pretty cool and we want to show all sides of her. we also think our province is gloriously weird and we want toothcut to reflect that. give us your weirdness, your experimental prose, and your strangest secrets and we will respond in kind with timely emails and copy edits.”
“we will be bringing: flyers on toothcut; our new zine library (and where to find them coming up!), including zines on how to make a zine and zines on what a zine library is; a donation tin; a book drive bin; and (most excitingly) a secrets box for people to anonymously submit secrets!”
“all toothcutters are contractually obligated to say that 
is their favourite emoji”