Shanghai's best community groups in 2017

Unravel

The monthly storytelling platform had its first event last February. Since then, Unravel has continued changing its themes up every month, selecting the right stories and the best storytellers, collaborating with other community organisations and putting out some slick posters. Overall it has been a solid year of bringing folks together with a good yarn. Unravel’s founder Clara Davis had this to say about the organisation in 2017:

‘It’s been amazing to watch the way people connect to other people telling stories. It captures something so essentially Shanghai – a colorful cast of characters, casual surprises, so many different experiences lived: from gaming politics at the World Monopoly Championships to a 78-year-old’s digital leap of faith to one small town’s seriously Secret Santa operation. In a city as dynamic and stimulating as this one, it’s rare and sometimes just plain difficult to take the time to sit, listen, and connect. We’ve had some incredible storytellers and equally amazing audiences – I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store!’

Follow Unravel on WeChat (id: UnravelShanghai) for news on the next event and theme.

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Shaving in the Dark

Since launching, this indie comics magazine and collective has snowballed into a genuine community of people whose notebook margins are littered with elaborate doodles. Shaving in the Dark has just released its third issue and is already announcing the theme and submission period for its fourth issue. Alongside the magazine, Shaving in the Dark hosts monthly gatherings to bring unassuming illustrators into the fold, and collaborates with other groups, often those who sacrifice a blank wall to the mural gods. Zovi Weng, founder of Shaving in the Dark, looked back on 2017 and said:

‘Mhm... I guess it’s this time of the year. Reflect on what you’ve done... eventually, lay down your dreams of becoming better-faster-stronger. Since we were just born this April 2017, it ain’t easy reflecting (especially in the Dark) but the Shavers’ family has been growing as steadily as a rabbit colony in the springtime. Seems like this city did need a burrow for comic nerds after all. Keep shavin’ like it’s 2018 and remember our Drink’n’Draw on January 8, 7.30pm at Daliah!’

Follow Shaving in the Dark on WeChat (id: ShavingintheDark) for info about submissions, events and where to get a copy of the magazine.

Feibao

The thing about recycling is that more people would do it if it were simply easier. That’s the exact need that Feibao fills, especially when it comes to electronics. All users need to do is send a photo of their recyclables to the Feibao WeChat account and set a pick-up time. Looking back on 2017, Feibao's founders Jonathan Cruysberghs and Clement Saint-Ellier had this to say:

'Feibao aims at improving the recycling industry drastically. We are developing our own smart recycling technology to put in contact waste producers and waste recyclers. We launched in summer 2017; we now have several thousands waste producers (including schools, offices, bars & restaurants, households) and several hundred collectors included in our network. When you recycle with us, you can also receive points that can be traded at our partners brands. On top of that, we provide schools with Environmental teaching. Join the movement and start FeibaoCycle today (Wechat id:feibaowaste)!'

The Shanghai Literary Review

While Shanghai has surely birthed a few English-language literary magazines in its time, only one so far has gone and called itself The Shanghai Literary Review (TSLR). The four people behind it are a handful of writer expats who joined their collective free time and spare cash to make and print a literary magazine, and they’ve just put out a second issue. Juli Min, the founding Editor in Chief for TSLR, reflecting on the magazine’s debut year said:

‘The Shanghai Literary Review had a landmark year, debuting Issue One of our journal in July and launching Issue Two in December. Within six months, our team also grew in size from four to 12, allowing us to start new projects in addition to our journal: TSLR Book Club, ongoing monthly open mic and literary events, and a new special publication about Chinese cities forthcoming next spring. TSLR is now in stores in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, New York, London, and Los Angeles. After our Shanghai launch, we are also holding a New York City launch party on January 16 at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Stop by if you're in town!’

Follow TSLR on WeChat (id: TheShanghaiLiteraryReview) or visit shanghailiterary.com for info about submissions, events and where to get a copy.

Beyond the Bund

Beyond the Bund started in 2015 with a mission to connect China's younger generation to its storied elders by presenting the latter's life experiences in combination with contemporary arts. As a wise woman once said, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine of history go down.

Two years on and Beyond the Bund is still going, having provided a platform for dozens of China's elderly to open up about experiences they almost locked away forever, and in the process giving young people and anybody else interested rare perspective that put's China's elderly people in a new, more idiosyncratic context. Follow them on WeChat (id: BTBShanghai) for news about their Chinese Whispers storytelling series and other events.