Supanova Expo
| Supanova Comic Con & Gaming | |
|---|---|
 The exhibition floor at Supanova Sydney 2010 | |
| Genre | Speculative fiction |
| Venue | Various |
| Location(s) |
|
| Country | Australia |
| Inaugurated | 2002 |
| Organized by | Supanova Pop Culture Industries |
| Filing status | For profit |
| Website | http://www.supanova.com.au/ |
Supanova Comic Con & Gaming (also known simply as Supanova) is a fan convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy film and TV, comic books, anime, gaming and collectables. It is held annually in the Australian cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.
The first Supanova was held at the Sydney Showground on the weekend of 20-21 April 2002. It was the successor to comicfest!, four similar conventions under the same management held between March 2000 and November 2002 in Sydney. On the weekend of 13-14 September 2003, Supanova held its first convention in the city of Brisbane at the RNA Showgrounds.[1] In 2008, Supanova expanded to include Melbourne (back-to-back with Brisbane) and Perth (back-to-back with Sydney). In 2012, the convention expanded again, arriving on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide for the first time. As of 2013, the combined annual attendance across Supanova's six events was estimated at 160,000 (From 11,600 to 39,400 in 2013 across all cities) with the largest attendance of 50,800 fans participating at the Sydney expo, June 2014.
One of the major attractions at Supanova is the special guests - often well-known personalities of interest to convention attendees who participate in signing sessions and panel discussions with their fans.[2] Other notable attractions at Supanova include the cosplay competition,[3] the "Artist's Alley" where aspiring artists can display and sell their work, and the anime theatre. On many occasions Supanova has also hosted, as satellite events, artwork masterclasses, film screenings or similar activities. There is a large exhibitors area at Supanova where attendees can purchase merchandise from one of the many traders present.[4][5]
As of 2014, Supanova is held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in April, followed by Sydney Olympic Park and Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre events in June, and finally at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and Adelaide Showgrounds in November. Supanova's Sydney event was formerly held at the Wharf 8 Function Centre in King Street Wharf, from 2003 to 2005, before returning to Olympic Park in 2006. 2013 was the last time the event was held in Brisbane at the RNA Showgrounds (2003-2013) and Perth's Claremont Showgrounds (2008-2013) having outgrown both venues.
Supanova is an Australian-made, independent event not affiliated with foreign exposition producers. It is managed by a team of permanent staff with Daniel Zachariou holding the title of event director.[6] There are also a large number of volunteers, generally appointed on an event-by-event basis, who assist with the on-site running of the convention.
In 2017, Supanova announced that they had rebranded from Supanova Pop Culture Expo to Supanova Comic Con & Gaming, citing that the video games industry had made significant strides within the industry, and the ambiguity of the "pop culture expo" branding.[7]
Events
Past
| Year | Location | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | April, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st |
| 2003 | Sydney, NSW | Wharf 8 Function Center, King Street Wharf | April, Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | September, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th | |
| 2004 | Sydney, NSW | Wharf 8 Function Center, King Street Wharf | May, Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | September, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th | |
| 2005 | Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th |
| Sydney, NSW | Wharf 8 Function Center, King Street Wharf | October, Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th | |
| 2006 | Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | October, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th | |
| 2007 | Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | October, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th | |
| 2008 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | March, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 4th, Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22th | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | June, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th | |
| 2009 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | March, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 26th, Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | July, Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th | |
| 2010 | Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th |
| Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | June, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th | |
| 2011 | Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | April, Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd |
| Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | June, Friday 24th, Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | November, Friday 4th, Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th | |
| 2012 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | June, Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | November, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th | |
| 2013 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd | |
| Perth, WA | Claremont Showgrounds | June, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | RNA Showgrounds | November, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th | |
| 2014 | Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 4th, Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th |
| Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 11th, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th | |
| Perth, WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | June, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd | |
| Brisbane, QLD | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | November, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th | |
| 2015 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st | |
| Perth, WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | June, Friday 26th, Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd | |
| Brisbane, QLD | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | November, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th | |
| 2016 | Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th |
| Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th | |
| Perth, WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | June, Friday 24th, Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | November, Friday 11th, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th | |
| 2017 | Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd |
| Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th | |
| Perth, WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | June, Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | November, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th | |
| Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th | |
| 2018 | Melbourne, VIC | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | April, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | April, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th | |
| Sydney, NSW | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park | June, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th | |
| Perth, WA | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | June, Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th |
Upcoming
| Year | Location | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds | November, Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th |
| Brisbane, QLD | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | November, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th | |
| 2019 | Melbourne, VIC | TBA | April, Friday 5th, Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th |
| Gold Coast, QLD | TBA | April, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th | |
| Sydney, NSW | TBA | June, Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd | |
| Perth, WA | TBA | June, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th | |
| Adelaide, SA | TBA | November, Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd | |
| Brisbane, QLD | TBA | November, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th | |
| 2020 | Gold Coast, QLD | TBA | March, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th |
| Melbourne, VIC | TBA | April, Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th | |
| Sydney, NSW | TBA | June, Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st | |
| Perth, WA | TBA | June, Friday 26th, Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th | |
| Adelaide, SA | TBA | November, Friday 6th, Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | TBA | November, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th | |
| 2021 | Gold Coast, QLD | TBA | March, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th |
| Melbourne, VIC | TBA | April, Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th | |
| Sydney, NSW | TBA | June, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th | |
| Perth, WA | TBA | June, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th | |
| Adelaide, SA | TBA | November, Friday 5th, Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th | |
| Brisbane, QLD | TBA | November, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th |
Controversy
In June 2016, founder Daniel Zachariou shared on his Facebook page a petition calling for all transgender education to be stopped in schools and that the Safe Schools program forces children to "learn about sex, gender fluidity and transgenderism at ages as young as 5 without the supervision of parents". Many convention goers and personalities were outraged and had called for a boycott of the convention.[8][9] Zachariou later apologized in a post for sharing the petition, by saying "I want to express my sincere apologies to all staff, volunteers, guests and attendees of the Expo, and especially those who identify as LBGTQIA+." and further stated "In no way did I intend to express transphobic or homophobic views, which would not align with the values of acceptance and camaraderie that I hold and aim to demonstrate through Supanova."[10]
On June 28, 2017, popular culture website GeekMom published an article criticising the culture of Supanova and how the expo was run, describing it as "toxic". The article mentioned how press were treated by staff and also the sexist and disrespectful attitudes of the PR people.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "About Supanova". Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Lewis, Maria (23 March, 2012) Supanova set to explode on Sydney with geeky guests Hayden Panettiere and Christopher Llyod, The Daily Telegraph, accessed March 28, 2012
- ^ Feeney, Katherine (4 April 2011) Stars come out for Supanova, The Age, retrieved March 28, 2012
- ^ Wight, Andrew (6 April 2008). "Wookies, anime and Elvens - that's Supanova". The Brisbane Times. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ Williams, Matthew (12 April 2008). "WIN – Tickets to Supanova up for grabs!". The Nintendo Basement. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Feeny, Katherine (1 April 2010) Brisbane geeks prepare for comic feast, Brisbane Times, accessed 28 March, 2012
- ^ "SUPANOVA COMIC CON IS CHANGING THE GAME OF POP CULTURE EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA". Supanova Comic Con & Gaming. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Serrels, Mark (2016-06-06). "People Are Boycotting Supanova Over Founder's Stance Against Safe Schools". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
- ^ "Calls to boycott Supanova festival over founder's comments". OutInPerth. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Power, Shannon (2016-06-08). "Supanova boss backtracks on Safe Schools attack". Star Observer. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Evil Genius Mum (2017-06-28). "Supanova: The Sometimes Toxic Culture of Conventions". GeekMom. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
External links
