Kendal’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced Traces of the Great War, a new and ambitious anthology publication exploring the traces and impact of the World War One on our lives today.
Featuring over 20 internationally acclaimed comic artists and writers, the project has been jointly commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the World War One centenary, and La Mission du Centenaire.
Traces of the Great War will be published in October 2018 and forms part of the 14-18 Now national programme of over 40 arts and cultural events taking place throughout 2018.
This multi-partnership France/ UK project is led by the directors of On a Marche sur la Bulle and LICAF, Pascal Meriaux and Julie Tait and co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Mission du Centenaire.
Featuring strips from francophone, British and other artists from across the globe, Traces of the Great War will include a dedicated website, education programme and exhibitions.
Comic creators involved include award-winning artist and writer Dave McKean, who also co-created the critically-acclaimed 14-18 NOW comics work Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash in 2016.
Contributors to Traces of the Great War also include: Charlie Adlard, Simon Armitage, Edmond Baudoin, Juan Díaz Canales, Régis Hautière, Joe Kelly, Kris, Thomas Von Kummant, Denis Lapière, Victoria Lomasko, Maël, Dave McKean, Mikiko, Ken Niimura, Sean Phillips, Ian Rankin, Riff Reb’s, Robbie Morrison, Orijit Sen, Bryan Talbot and Mary Talbot.
downthetubes understands more names may yet be added to this list.
Not only is this a global comics project but its has a local connection with Kendal, home to the Festival, too. A key partner, Albert in France (host of the annual Albert book festival), is twinned with Ulverston in South Cumbria and both locations will be involved in the launch of the project.
“Comics, graphic novels, bandes desinees are an incredibly powerful art form, capable of bringing to life fragments of the past and to give form and presence to what cannot easily be said,” says LICAF director Julie Tait of the joint project. “This artform has the power to transmit emotion, to involve our feelings and intellect and to make readers think and reflect on the issues they deal with.”
Traces of the Great War is commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, La Mission du centenaire de la Première Guerre mondiale, On a Marche Sur Le Bulle and Lakes International Comic Arts Festival. It is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
Web Links
14-18 NOW
• 14-18 NOW on the web: www.1418now.org.uk | On social media, follow Hashtag #1418NOW | 14-18 NOW Facebook Page | Follow 14-18 NOW on Twitter @1418NOW | Follow 14-18 NOW on Instagram @1418NOW | 14-18 NOW on Youtube
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be back in Kendal 12th – 14th October 2018
• Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast | View the 2017 Festival Programme on Issuu | Download the 2017 Programme (PDF)
On a Marche sur la Bulle (OMB)
In France, in Amiens, On a Marché sur la Bulle is a unique association and resource centre for bandes dessinées. It works year-round on comics with a nine-person team, developing, among other interventions, a wide variety of projects and resources for mediation and educational purposes. The association organizes the Rendez-Vous de la Bande Dessinée d’Amiens, annually on the first weekend of June. This festival is recognised as one of the four major comic art festivals in France.
• For more information visit http://bd.amiens.com
The Commissioners
Traces of the Great War is a co-commission with 14-18 NOW in the UK and the Mission de Centenaire in France.
14-18 NOW
14-18 NOW is a five-year programme of extraordinary arts experiences connecting people with the First World War. Working with arts and heritage partners all across the UK, we commission new artworks from leading contemporary artists, musicians, designers and performers, inspired by the period 1914-18.
• For more information visit www.1418now.org.uk
La Mission du Centenaire
France’s First World War Centenary Partnership Program is a public interest group established in 2012 by the French Government for the preparation and implementation of the commemorative program for the First World War centenary.
• For more information visit http://centenaire.org/en
- About the Author
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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