On Friday, September 25, at precisely 6.30pm local time, an extraordinary global event will take place: The Pelikan Hub.
In the Gippsland region, the event is set to be celebrated at Club Eastwood, Bairnsdale. Other than Melbourne, it is the only registered city in Victoria where enthusiasts can get together to celebrate creative activities in art, including brushes, pens, ink and paper.
For those wishing to join, reservations can still be made directly through Club Eastwood or through the host, Danny Anderson (pens.and.calligraphy@outlook.com).
Despite official registrations with Pelikan closing in August, space remains available. Each event is supported, but not hosted, by Pelikan.
They are all organised by a local “Hub Master”, meaning it is a local meeting organised for fans, by fans, with support from Pelikan. The cost of food and drink is not included.
The first Pelikan Hub was held in 2014, when 69 Hubs attracted about 981 participants. The concept quickly grew. By 2019 there were 199 Hubs in 46 countries, with more than 5700 participants. Last year the initiative saw 10,764 registered participants in 291 cities across 50 countries. Due to the increased number of registrations this year, organisers have limited the event to 10,000 people across the world.
While affiliation with the Pelikan brand is not required to participate, as in previous years attendees will receive an exclusive Pelikan gift bag. Among other surprises, the gift bag traditionally features a complimentary bottle of Pelikan’s “Ink of the Year” (Iron Pyrite).
In Australia, the event is held every year in all the capital cities, and together with Newcastle, the Gippsland region is the only other regional Hub in Australia.
Hosted by Danny Anderson, a local passionate pen enthusiast and calligraphy coach, this social event offers a chance for people from the region to meet, display and exchange pens and inks, and talk about a hobby that is becoming increasingly uncommon in an age dominated by keyboards and smartphones.
For those wanting to try their hand at fountain pens or calligraphy, an evening class will be held before the event from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the same venue, Club Eastwood.
WHAT IS THE PELIKAN HUB?
For most people, a pen is simply something used to write a shopping list, sign a document or jot down a phone number. For a growing community around the world, however, pens, ink and handwriting have become a serious hobby and once a year thousands of enthusiasts come together for the Pelikan Hub.
Across the world, people will convene in diverse venues, from art galleries and libraries to community centres and quaint cafés. The common theme is a celebration of writing, pen and ink drawing, paper crafts and pen friends, emphasising the joy of traditional penmanship in an increasingly digital age.
In Berlin, home to Pelikan’s headquarters, the Hub will be staged on a grander scale. The main hall will be transformed into an immersive gallery tracing the evolution of writing instruments.
Visitors get to handle the current range of exquisite pens, explore historical pens, watch master calligraphers at work and witness the creation of a giant collaborative mural. Painted in real time with Pelikan’s newest inks and pens, the mural will grow over the evening as guests add their own distinctive strokes, turning the artwork into a true collective masterpiece.
In New York City, a renowned independent bookstore will set the scene for a literary celebration. Acclaimed authors and poets will give live readings of their latest works, followed by spirited conversations on the enduring art of writing. Around the room, local artists will host interactive stations where attendees can experiment with writing, sketching, and calligraphy using Pelikan’s range of finely crafted pens, nibs and inks.
In smaller towns and rural areas, the Pelikan Hub will nurture local pride and creativity. Libraries and schools host workshops and storytelling sessions, inviting people of all ages to explore their artistic potential and rediscover the joy of writing by hand.
The attraction becomes obvious when looking at reports from people attending their first Hub. Participants can arrive with a single fountain pen or with a collection of pens; some even come to experience it for the first time. There is usually plenty of opportunity to handle unfamiliar pens and try different inks and nibs. For someone interested in fountain pens, it can be an unusually good opportunity to learn directly from other enthusiasts.
At 6.30pm, a global moment of celebration and noise will symbolise the collective celebration of creativity and the written word. Participants will reflect on the power of writing to connect, inspire, and unite people around the world.
The Pelikan Hub is more than just an event; it’s a worldwide homage to the enduring art of writing and drawing, reaffirming the simple pleasure of putting pen to paper.
As the evening concludes, attendees will leave with their small celebration pack and a renewed appreciation for the written word and the role Pelikan’s pens play in their creative endeavours.
This celebration not only honours traditional penmanship but also explores past, present, and future innovations, ensuring that the art of writing continues to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
