Welcome to the Friends of Eastercon website. This website exists to provide an on-line forum for discussion of the future of Eastercons. We hope that you will find the information and links you need to join us in the conversation. We would welcome your input, and this website provides a permanent site with options for posting your views and emailing us.
ConFusion plans to be a hybrid convention
The ConFusion committee are not sure that the Covid-19 pandemic will allow them to have a full physical convention in Birmingham in 2021, so are now planning a virtual or possibly hybrid convention. They have announced a virtual attending membership rate of £50, compared with their physical one of £70. More details here.
Eastercon 2021 back in Birmingham
ConFusion 2021 won an online bidding session for the 2021 Eastercon, to be held at the Birmingham NEC again, with 95% of the vote. Permission to record the session was refused.
Eastercon 2020 cancelled
As was inevitable, Concentric had to cancel the Eastercon as it became clear that the Hilton could not fulfill their contract, in spite of the hotel being very accommodating. The committee will be hosting a virtual bidding session for 2021 and 2022 on Easter Sunday. Visit the Concentric website for more details on that and how they plan to wind down the event.
Caroline Mullan has suggested we all sign this virtual card to show our appreciation for the committee and their efforts.
Coronavirus and Eastercon #2
Concentric 2020 are in a very difficult position, balancing public health with their contract with the Hilton hotel and their insurance policy. There is a discussion on the Facebook Eastercon Community page as what happens if the con does not take place, and we need to choose a new site for 2021. Apologies for non Facebook people, but there does not seem a good alternative discussion forum. The Friends of Eastercon will be following the discussion there.
Eastercon and Coronavirus
The Concentric 2020 committee are in active discussion with Public Health England and the Hilton hotel, but you might find their latest thoughts on the Eastercon Community Group page, not their main Facebook page, website or twitter feeds.
More Eastercon publications scanned
I have now scanned all Eastercon publications up to 2018, and moved them to a new home. They can now be found at http://files.fancyclopedia.org/Eastercon
Farewell Ytterbium, welcome Concentric
Ytterbium went well, I got a chance to type on an Enigma machine! Concentric won as an uncontested bid (Tech’s time travelling event needing more development) and will hold Eastercon 71 from 10-13 April 2020 in the Birmingham NEC Hilton Metropole.
Ytterbium is coming
The 2019 Eastercon will be Ytterbium at Heathrow Airport. Friends of Eastercon doesn’t plan to have any programme items there, but wishes Concentric good luck with their bid for 2020.
30+ years of Eastercon publications scanned
Thanks to Mark Plummer I’ve scanned in the Eastercon programme
archive, 31 programme books and 47 PRs from Whitcon to BECCON ’87, and
uploaded them to Fancyclopedia. 1880 pages, done on an HP all-in-one
printer with sheet feeder I just bought for £30. HP think they’ll make
their money on Instant Ink, the fools… http://fancyclopedia.org/eastercon
Follycon update
Follycon was a great success, but there was no bid for 2020 to vote on because the Manchester bid had to fold. A scratch bid, to hold the event in the Birmingham NEC Metropole (site of Innominate in 2017) as Concentric2020 had formed but felt it was too soon to present a formal bid, so they will be planning a one year bid for Ytterbium next year.
Pat ably provided a very brief FOE update, and got no questions, so what little we are doing must be right!
