Open Session #24: Bookbinding with Zoe Thompson
Open Session #24: Bookbinding with Zoe Thompson
Come and learn the traditional craft of bookbinding in this hands-on workshop for beginners with Zoe Thompson. Over the course of an evening, you'll work alongside Zoe in a relaxed session, learning how to bind a case-bound book by hand and making your own to take home.
By the end, you'll have a handmade book ready to fill with your own writing, drawings, sketches or ideas. You don't need any experience, and all materials are provided. Whether you're curious about zines, want to make your own notebooks, or simply fancy trying something new with your hands, you're welcome to join.
Zoe is currently in residency at Lighthouse, exploring creative writing and bookbinding as she develops her practice as a zine maker.
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026, 6 - 8.30 PM
Location: Lighthouse, 28 Kensington Street, Brighton, BN1 4AJ (map)
Tickets: FREE. Booking Required. Refreshments will be provided.
Age: Parental guidance, under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Programmed by Lighthouse's Future Creative Leaders (FCL) this event is during Zoe's residency at Lighthouse this Autumn.
Lighthouse Open Sessions are an opportunity to make new connections, meet like-minded people, hear from creative people about their career-defining moments and gain advice for getting started in the creative and digital sector.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Zoe Thompson is a London-based zine-maker and facilitator, bringing the joy of zine-making to brands and people through workshops, content and editorial design. Zoe champions the power of zine culture as a radical tool of expression and design workshops centered around embodied play; facilitating warm, joyful and accessible spaces for collective making.
Inspired by the history of zines - DIY culture, the 90s Riot Grrrl movement, independent magazines of the Harlem Renaissance - she advocates for the importance of physical media and the revolutionary potential that zines have to produce and archive counter culture.
Main Image credit: Sofia Mareque
Zoe's website | @zoethezinester on Instagram | LinkedIn
ACCESSIBILITY
Lighthouse is a fully wheelchair accessible venue. This event will be held in the ground floor, level access, reception space. Find our accessibility details for the building here. For further information email info@lighthouse.org.uk or call 01273 647197.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO DURING EVENT
Please note, that this event will be photographed/filmed. If you prefer not to be photographed please speak to a member of the Lighthouse team. The photographs and film we capture at our events are used for marketing and promotional purposes for our programme only and are stored securely.
ABOUT FUTURE CREATIVE LEADERS
Future Creative Leaders (FCL) is a 12-month paid programme offering young creatives from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to work closely with Lighthouse's leadership team to explore various aspects of creative leadership.
FCL redefines youth engagement by sharing power and resources directly with young people. This 12-month programme goes beyond access or participation. It places real influence, leadership, creative agency and decision-making power in the hands of those traditionally underrepresented in the creative industries.
Over the year, participants will co-curate programmes, select participants for mini-residencies, and recruit their successors, all while exploring alternative governance structures, accountability, and power-sharing.
FUNDERS
We're grateful to: Innovate UK, Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, and Enjoolata Foundation.
