About Us

Coin-Operated Press CIC is a social enterprise zine press run by Chloe Henderson. Rooted in Scotland’s creative community, we bring people together through workshops, zine fairs, and our travelling zine library. Each month, we collaborate with artists and writers to create new zines that amplify unsung voices. Our themes range from important causes close to our hearts to playful, joyful ideas that offer a little light in the darkness. We’re passionate about sharing our love for zines and creating educational resources that open up zine-making as a tool for expression, connection, and change.

 

What is a zine? A zine (pronounced “ZEEN”) is a small-circulation, independently published booklet-style artwork. While a magazine is generally published for-profit by large organisations, zines have their roots in DIY subcultures and minority communities. They are typically not-for-profit and focus on community-building and sharing niche information and art. There is no wrong way to make a zine, and they are great for artists of all skill levels and abilities!

 

We centre intersectional feminist values and are especially passionate about working with LGBTQ+ communities and people living with chronic illness and disabilities. Zine culture thrives on diversity, and we actively welcome people of all genders, sexualities, ages, races, abilities, and backgrounds to get involved with Coin-Operated Press.

 

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. We aim to be as environmentally conscious as possible in our zine-making and events, with upcycling always part of the process.

 

We believe everyone is an artist! With the right tools and a little encouragement, anyone can share their voice with us - whether through our community-made zines or their own handmade creations in our workshops.

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Coin-Operated Press CIC SC756663