Swecon 2014 in Gävle, Sweden
Upon latest Swecon (Fantastika 2013) Steampunk Festival & Swecon (as the name probably will be) was voted as host of 2014 Swecon. It will take place at the Railway Museum in the city of Gävle, 200 km north of Stockholm, June 27-29, planned as a general steampunk festival for the public, but with a core of special Swecon programming, for paying members. It will be the northernmost Swedish sf/f convention held this far.
English info: http://steampunkfestival.se/?lang=en
Confetti Con, April 4-6, 2014, Gothenburg, Sweden
The losing bid, Confetti Con, April 4-6, 2014, Gothenburg (Göteborg), will still be held. GoHs: Anders Fager and Caroline L Jensen.
They lost their venue, Gamlestadens Culture House for the Sunday (double-booking and The Church of Sweden had priority…) but will have special arrangements for the Sunday, including a special tour with Gothenburg Tramways. On this con Club Cosmos, the organizer will celebrate its 60th anniversary as Swedens oldest, still active SF club. Swedish info (English may come later): http://confetti.clubcosmos.net/
The 2013 Alvar Award won by Mårten Svantesson, Sweden
The Alvar Appeltofft Memorial Award (named after the famous fan Alvar Appeltofft) is the main fan-activity award of Swedish fandom. It is administrated by the Alvar Appeltofft Memorial Foundation and decided by ballot. This year the Alvar : a diploma, a statuette and a few thousand Swedish crowns cash, went to Mårten Svantesson, who has been active in Stockholm fandom for many years, among other things with con-running, eg in the committee of Eurocon 2011. The other nominees were Peter Bengtsson, Gothenburg, and Maria Nygård, Uppsala. http://www.alvarfonden.org/english.html
Norcon 27 postponed to 14th-16th of March 2014
Norcon, Norway’s National SF Convention was postponed to 2014. Karin Lagesen has announced the new Chair Con, Heidi Lyshol and the new date, 14th-16th of March 2014 in Oslo. GoHs will be Pat Cadigan (US), Kim Newman (english horror writer), Kristine Tofte (norwegian fantasy writer).
© Ahrvid Engholm