If you’re looking for something a little different in Santa Cruz this weekend, Pliegue 9 at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes might be worth adding to your plans.
Taking place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July, this free event celebrates self-publishing, independent creativity and queer culture through a mixture of exhibitions, workshops, talks, live music and a self-publishing fair.
It’s certainly not your average museum event.
More than just a book fair
While self-published books, magazines and fanzines are at the heart of Pliegue 9, the event is really about bringing creative people together.
TEA has once again turned its public spaces into a place where artists, writers, designers and visitors can meet, exchange ideas and explore work that you probably won’t come across in your local bookshop.
The organisers are focusing this year’s event around the idea of preserving creative work that doesn’t always fit neatly into traditional archives. It might sound a bit academic, but in simple terms it’s about giving independent publishing and alternative voices a place to be seen.
Talks, exhibitions and workshops
The event opens on Friday afternoon with photographer Ricardo Cases, who’ll be talking about photography and self-publishing before a new exhibition, Arqueologías de un juego pequeño, officially opens.
The exhibition will remain at TEA until 9th August, giving visitors plenty of time to see it even after the festival has finished.
Saturday is the busiest day, with practical workshops covering everything from independent publishing to creating your own fanzines. There’ll also be creative activities throughout the day for anyone who prefers to get involved rather than simply look around.
Some workshops have limited places, so booking ahead is recommended.
A quieter way to enjoy the festival
One thing that’s quite refreshing is that the organisers have once again included a dedicated “chill” period during the middle of Saturday.
It’s designed for anyone who’d rather browse the fair without large crowds or too much sensory overload. A simple idea, but one that makes the event more accessible for everyone.
Music to finish the day
The event wraps up on Saturday evening with a free DJ set from Irtap, taking place in the plaza outside TEA.
It’s a relaxed way to finish two days of exhibitions, conversations and creativity in the centre of Santa Cruz.
If you’re interested in art, design, photography, independent publishing or simply fancy seeing something a little different from the usual summer events, Pliegue 9 looks well worth a visit.