Supanova Pop Culture Expo
Encyclopedia
Supanova Pop Culture Expo (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 Brisbane
, Sydney
, Perth
and Melbourne
.
The first Supanova was held at the Sydney Showground
on the weekend of 20-21 April 2002. It was the successor to comicfest!, a similar convention under the same management which held its final event in November 2002. On the weekend of 13-14 September 2003, Supanova held its first convention in the city of Brisbane at the RNA Showgrounds
. In 2008, Supanova expanded to include Melbourne
(back-to-back with Brisbane) and Perth
(back-to-back with Sydney). As of 2010, the combined attendance across the four events was estimated at 58,500; the Brisbane expo, as of 2011 the largest, had 23,400 attendees in April of that year.
One of the major attractions at Supanova are the special guests - often well-known personalities of interest to convention attendees who participate in signing sessions and panel discussions with their fans. Other notable attractions at Supanova include the cosplay
competition, 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.
As of 2011, Supanova is held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds
and RNA Showgrounds
Brisbane in April, followed by Sydney Olympic Park
and Claremont Showgrounds
Perth in June. 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. From 2012 the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
and Adelaide Showgrounds will join the schedule.
Supanova is managed by a team of permanent staff with Daniel Zachariou holding the title of event director. There are also a large number of volunteers, generally appointed on an event-by-event basis, who assist with the day-to-day running of the convention.
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
focusing on science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and TV, comic books, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, gaming
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
and collectables. It is held annually in the Australian cities of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
The first Supanova was held at the Sydney Showground
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
on the weekend of 20-21 April 2002. It was the successor to comicfest!, a similar convention under the same management which held its final event in November 2002. On the weekend of 13-14 September 2003, Supanova held its first convention in the city of Brisbane at the RNA Showgrounds
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
. In 2008, Supanova expanded to include Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(back-to-back with Brisbane) and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
(back-to-back with Sydney). As of 2010, the combined attendance across the four events was estimated at 58,500; the Brisbane expo, as of 2011 the largest, had 23,400 attendees in April of that year.
One of the major attractions at Supanova are the special guests - often well-known personalities of interest to convention attendees who participate in signing sessions and panel discussions with their fans. Other notable attractions at Supanova include the cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
competition, 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
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
, 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.
As of 2011, Supanova is held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds
Royal Melbourne Showgrounds
The Melbourne Showgrounds is located in the inner north-western suburb of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, next door to Flemington Racecourse. Is the home of the annual Royal Melbourne Show, as well as major exhibitions, trade shows, and music concerts....
and RNA Showgrounds
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
Brisbane in April, followed by Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
and Claremont Showgrounds
Claremont Showgrounds
The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval....
Perth in June. Supanova's Sydney event was formerly held at the Wharf 8 Function Centre in King Street Wharf
King Street Wharf
King Street Wharf covering approximately five hectares, is a former maritime industrial area on the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, an inlet of Sydney Harbour, Australia, that has been redeveloped into a mixed use tourism, commercial, residential and maritime development as part of the extensive...
, from 2003 to 2005, before returning to Olympic Park in 2006. From 2012 the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre located on the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach, Gold Coast was opened on 29 June 2004 at a cost of $167 million and is linked by a covered walkway to Conrad Jupiters...
and Adelaide Showgrounds will join the schedule.
Supanova is managed by a team of permanent staff with Daniel Zachariou holding the title of event director. There are also a large number of volunteers, generally appointed on an event-by-event basis, who assist with the day-to-day running of the convention.