Independent Publishing Resource Center

Beginning in September 2009 the IPRC will launch a new, year-long certificate program in Writing, Comics and Independent Publishing. Participants will choose between one of two tracks, Creative Writing or Comics/Graphic Novels, and will spend two semesters creating and publishing their work.

Read more about it here.

Registering for an IPRC workshop has never been easier! Simply click on any of the May or later classes listed to the right, then follow the Brown Paper Tickets link. It’s a very simple process and you can pay by credit card. Get ‘em while they last!

Every summer, the amazing little nonprofit publishing center known as the IPRC transforms into an extra amazing place called Camp IPRC. With special Zine Camps for youth and teens, Camp IPRC is a great place for kids. But unlike most camps, Camp IPRC is for adults, too! Along with our annual Print Camp for Adults, we have some great new workshops lined up, including Bind-Fast Perfect Binding, which teaches you to make actual softcover books on our new Bind-Fast 5 bookbinding machine.

Coming up in August we’ll host our first workshop on our new Yudu Screenprinting machine. And throughout the summer we have a great lineup of our classic courses on letterpress printing, InDesign and Illustrator skills, Zines 101 and more.

We also have some big news: starting this fall, we’re launching a new year-long certificate program in Writing, Comics and Independent Publishing.  With separate tracks in Creative Writing and Cartooning, plus an entire semester devoted to hands-on skills like book design, web design, letterpress printing, screenprinting and perfect binding, this exciting new program will help writers and cartoonists navigate the rapidly changing media landscape.  For more information click here or write me at justin@iprc.org.

On the events front, all of us IPRC campers are busy gearing up for the Portland Zine Symposium, coming up July 24th, 25th and 26th. This year the IPRC is hosting a Pre-Symposium Kick Off Dance Party with a live performance by local band Ah Holly Fam’ly, a readings by legendary zinester Alex Wrekk, plus late night 90’s dance music.  It all goes down on Thursday July 23rd, with proceeds benefiting the IPRC.

Since times are still a little tough, we’re pleased to continue our Recession Special, wherein you can join the center for three months at the rock bottom price of $25.  It’s never been easier to join or sign up for workshops, just click here to join online or drop by the center.

Happy Camping,

Justin Hocking, IPRC Director

Portland is a river city; many of us lay our eyes daily upon the mighty Willamette and Columbia rivers. Yet, deep below the city’s surface runs another river, one that few have heard of and even fewer have seen.  It’s a mysterious body of water that some say has the power to heal the sick, to make the old young again, and the sad happy.  It’s a magical place known as Zine River.

Another well-kept secret: the IPRC has a secret passageway to this amazing river of creativity. Our fearless Membership Coordinator Lori D has been down there for months, paddling the Zine River on a homemade raft, seeking out underground artists and zinesters to take part in this special benefit art show.  Join us for the opening reception on Friday June 26th at 7pm, and take your own wild ride down the Zine River.

Zine River
A Benefit Art Show for the Independent Publishing Resource Center
@Grass Hut Gallery
811 East Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
June 26-July 1
Opening Reception: Friday June 26, 2009 at 7pm

Featuring artwork and zines by Chris Johanson, Thomas Campbell, Lori D, Nicole J. Georges, Gabriel Liston, Theo Ellsworth, Dan Gilsdorf, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Megan Whitmarsh, Leif Goldberg, Keegan Wenkman, Scrappers, Sammy Harkham, Chris Duncan, Thom Lessner, Elizabeth Haidle and E*Rock.

For more info call 503.827.0249 or visit www.grasshutcorp.com.

Each summer, the IPRC hosts a group of youngsters for five sessions of day camp. During camp, the participants learn the how’s and whys of self-publishing, the history of zine making and technical skills in print arts and independent publishing. Each camper will make their own zine, meet real live zinesters, participate in a zine reading and attend the 9th annual Portland Zine Symposium as tablers.

The camp is located downtown at the Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) in downtown Portland. There are two camps this year; Uncensored Youth and Zine Teens. The Teens group will meet from 12-4pm on Tuesdays and Fridays July 7th through the 24th, and the Youth will meet from 11-3 July 20th thru the 24th. The cost of camp is $125 with scholarships available.

Please contact A.M. O’Malley, IPRC Program Coordinator, at 503-827-0249 or iprcworkshops@gmail.com

• The recession has been especially hard on nonprofit arts organizations.  One of the simplest ways to support the IPRC is to make a monetary donation: simply click on the “donate” button above to make a secure online donation.
• We’re looking for new board members who have experience with development and fundraising.
• We would really benefit from one or two gently used Imac G5’s for our computer lab.
• We’re looking for an industrial guillotine paper cutter, as well as a tabletop perfect binder to expand our binding options. Our goal is to help users create small print runs of perfect bound books sometime in 2009!
• Flat screen Mac monitors
• Mac laptops
• Copier paper and various art supplies
• Free or discounted advertising space

The IPRC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so any in-kind donations you make can be written off as a deduction from your 2008 taxes.

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Text Ball a huge success! Check out photos here.