It’s not all as bad as you think! Come and see what’s happening down in the grassroots…

Is the rise of the far right, war, authoritarianism, ecological meltdown and the general omnicrisis getting you down? Looking for co-conspirators, some manageable ways to engage with it all, or just some hope? You need the legend that is: the full scale Bristol Anarchist Bookfair, back after a 5 year break in a big new venue. There will be an amazing range of Bristol campaigns across 50 different stalls. Come browse for the crew and the project that suits you best, or that mate you haven’t seen for a decade.

We’ve got over 20 free workshops with a wide range of styles and issues. There’ll be practical sessions on everything from how to deal with immigration officials, to fixing bikes, to engaging safely with riot shields. We’ll be exploring the political in the personal with the ‘It Takes A Village’ discussion, DIY HRT for trans folk and will writing for radicals. Expert guidance on what’s going on with the use of Terrorism legislation around protest, and easy ways to manage your digital security. Get new perspectives from the first hand experiences of a Russian anti war activist and the book launch of a collection of Palestinian women’s voices. Get up to date with the latest Disability Liberation work or Landrights analysis, or join the plenary on effective struggle in the workplace with the sex workers union and hospital staff. Hear from the global majority folks organising on the front lines of emboldened racism and the activists behind the campaign that toppled Colston. Or perhaps you just need to be inspired by the Reasons To Be Cheerful Plenary, featuring regional campaign victories from the last 5 years, with an analysis of the tactics that got us there.

There’ll be a creche and kids soft play space, loads of novel merch, some shiny new books and zines and great food.

If you like stickers, big ideas and a bit of a party, put the Saturday 01 November in your diaries and see what’s brewing. The Elmgrove Centre, Elmgrove Road, Bristol, BS6 6AH between 10.30am-4.30pm

The venue is 3 minutes walk from Redland train station which is unstaffed but has step free access. The 70, 74,75,76 and 77 bus routes stop at Montpelier High School which is 6 minutes away.

Guide dogs are welcome, but due to venue restrictions dogs will otherwise need to stay outside.

To make some of the event accessible to folks who would otherwise have to stay away from crowds, the first hour will be a fully masked space. Please dig out your own if you have one, but we will have some by donation at the door.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, but we have recently discovered that two of the workshop spaces, the Greenroom and the Treeroom have narrow doorways, which are 68cm and 72cm wide respectively. If you use a wheelchair wider than this and want to attend any workshops in these spaces, please fill in the form on the access page before Monday 27th October and we will attempt to swap session spaces. Sorry for the faff. We will also check in with participants on the day to see if any accommodations can be made.

There is a small quiet space and soft seating next to the venue entrance. Workshop spaces will be separate to the main hall, with amplification available in the larger rooms. There will be gender neutral toilets. We aspire to meet as many needs as possible, please let us know in advance if there are ways we can help.

Love and Rage
BAB