Lakes International Comic Art Festival trails Programme Highlights, including VIZ World Record Challenge

A world of comic art will return to Kendal for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (11 – 13th October 2019). Now in its seventh year, backed by the Arts Council and many other supporting organisations, the family-friendly festival will again take over the scenic town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, for a weekend of wonderful events, activities and workshops for all ages.

The world of comic art is a diverse and spectacular place, bursting with creations that transport us to other dimensions and other worlds.

“I’m so delighted to be bringing the best of comic art to Kendal,” enthuses Festival Director Julie Tait. “We are welcoming more creators, more countries, more exhibitors and more commissions than ever before

“We have a packed programme of events for festival pass holders and an amazing free Comics Clock Tower and Family Zone which will showcase an amazing selection of artist and publishers.”

The festival promises kick-ass superheroes, future worlds, fantastical creatures, zombies, crime fighters, politics, satire, documentary, comedy, manga and much more.

Here’s just a taster of this year’s festival highlights…

• The Viz 150 Character World Record Challenge – to celebrate the 40th anniversary of VIZ, artists from the UK and US will attempt to draw all 150 Viz characters in 50 minutes! Expect a high energy and entertaining opening event (Friday 11th October).

• A presentation of the 2019 Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art (Friday 11 October).

Windows Trail Art takes over Kendal in the run up to the Festival. Photo: Jeremy Briggs

Windows Trail Art takes over Kendal in the run up to the Festival. Photo: Jeremy Briggs

• Comics-Inspired Windows Trail – our windows trail returns to take over the town of Kendal. A unique opportunity for schools, businesses and artists to collaborate in our outdoor street art exhibition.

• The Smurfs at 60 – an exhibition celebrating one of the world’s most enduring comic creations. The exhibition charts the rise of the Smurfs to worldwide popularity.

Barking Press image by Lucy Sullivan• Launch of ‘Barking’ – Barking by artist Lucy Sullivan is a tale of grief, madness and the ghosts that haunt us all. Barking is co-commissioned by the Festival and Unbound (Saturday 12th October). Read an interview with Lucy here

• The Comics Clock Tower – the comics marketplace will be bursting with exhibitors, creatives and comic art publishers. And it’s free all weekend!

• Launch of Rain – Bryan and Mary Talbot’s latest graphic novel follows the everyday experiences or ordinary people experiencing the impact of climate change, flooding and pollution.

The cover of Rain by Mary and Bryan Talbot, which will get its launch at this year's Festival, published by Jonathan Cape. Set against the backdrop of disastrous floods in the North of England, Rain dramatically chronicles the developing relationship between two young women, one of whom is a committed environmental campaigner. Their wild Brontë moorland is being criminally mismanaged, crops are being systematically poisoned and birds and animals are being slaughtered

The cover of Rain by Mary and Bryan Talbot, which will get its launch at this year’s Festival, published by Jonathan Cape. Set against the backdrop of disastrous floods in the North of England, Rain dramatically chronicles the developing relationship between two young women, one of whom is a committed environmental campaigner. Their wild Brontë moorland is being criminally mismanaged, crops are being systematically poisoned and birds and animals are being slaughtered

• My Own Private Hell – international artists with a connection to the underworld draw hell inspired artwork live in front of the festival audience (Saturday 12 October).

• Let’s Go Camping with Tom of Finland exhibition – a celebration of the work and influence of gay icon Tom of Finland (28th September – 19th October) at Cross Lane Projects (Age 18+).

• Family Zone ­– A free family zone to enjoy mask and badge making, face painting, comic strip drawing and more (Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal, 12 -13th October).

Charlie Adlard: The Walking Dead• Zombie Concert – witness zombies brought to ‘life’ in a new performance featuring live drawing with The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard and internationally-renowned composer and musician Julien Limonne (Sunday 13 October).

• Next Frame – Eight international artists respond to the Abbot Hall Art Gallery collection. Artists have a few hours each to create what they think would be the next frame to the artwork they have selected. The artwork will be on display alongside the original (Saturday 12 October, viewing Sunday 13 October).

So, whether you’re a comic art addict, new to the world of comics or just love exceptional art and storytelling – get a date in your diary for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival 11-13 October 2019.

• Tickets for the 2019 Festival are on Sale Now at www.comicartfestival.com/buy-tickets | Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast

THE FESTIVAL WEEKEND PASS

The Festival weekend pass gives you access to all the main events on Saturday 12th October and Sunday 13th October. Events include live draws, masterclasses, talks, presentations and a chance to get up close to the best comic creators in the world. Seats are unreserved for all events and subject to the size of the venues. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. The weekend pass does not include the Friday Gala opening event. Concessions (Under 16 years of age and full time students)

FESTIVAL GUESTS 2019

Becky Cloonan

Becky Cloonan

The Festival guests for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2019 are: Charlie Adlard, Paolo Bacilieri, Serge Baeken, Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, Charles Brownstein, Laurence Campbell, Kate Charlesworth, Becky Cloonan, Darren Cullen, Darryl Cunningham, Rob Davis, Robert Deas, Francis Desharnais, Garth Ennis, Ephameron, Duncan Fegredo, Loic Gaume, Ben Gijsemans, Árni Beck Gunnarsson, Jibé, Taina Hakala, Rikke Hollænder, Milena Huhta, ILYA, Marc Jackson, Lars Jakobsen, Staz Johnson, Sally Kindberg, Lisa Krusmaagi, Valentine Laffitte, Michael Lark, David Leach, Pascal Lemaitre, Lee Loughridge, Luke McGarry, Steve McGarry, John McCrea, Junko Mizuno, Søren Mosdal, Bruce Mutard, Benoit Peeters, Jacob Phillips, Arthur de Pins, Emma Price, Kristina Ricken, Julie Rocheleau, Rune Ryberg, Marine Schneider, Declan Shalvey, Joonas Sildre, Simon Spurrier, Lucy Sullivan, Bryan Talbot, Mary Talbot, Veiko Tammjarv, Edward Taylor, Kurly Tlapoyawa, Alessandro Tota, Fabien Toulme, Judith Vanistendael, Joris Vermassen, Nicolas Wild and Rob Williams

Profiles of announced guests feature here on the official Festival web site

Comics Clock Tower Exhibitors

Cartoonists Club of Great Britain beavering away. Photo: John Freeman

Cartoonists Club of Great Britain beavering away at the Festival in 2017. Photo: John Freeman

The full line-up for this year’s Comics Clock Tower is: Alice Davies Illustration, Angela Pan, Arctic Ring Comics, Aroha Comics, Chris Askham, B7 Media, Big Brown Eyes Collective, Brushwest, the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain, Centrala, CFcomiX, Mack Chater, comicbooks.ie, Comics Youth CIC, Paul Harrison Davies, Demian 5, Chris Dorning – The Cunning Craftsman, John Harris Dunning, Emma G, Emmainky, Fair Spark Books, Rachel Jane Findlay Printmaker, John Freeman from downthetubes.net, Frisson Comics, Lyndsey Green Illustration, Hand Drawn Body Art, Happy Space Sloth, Jessica on Paper, Michael Kennedy, Rebecca K Jones and Peter Morey, Russell Mark Olson, The Lang Walk Hame, Roger Langridge, Joe Latham, Knockabout, Drew Marr, Mayamada, Myriad Editions, New Internationalist, Angela Pan, Nick Prolix Comix,  Zoom Rockman, SelfMadeHero (with an appearance by Rob Davis), SIMO, So What Press, Soaring Penguin Press, Square Eyes (Anna Mills and Luke Jones), technobabbl, Teesside Comics Society, This Man, This Pete!, Torbentegner, Tut and Groan, Unbound, University of Cumbria CBC and Gustaffo Vargas, Robert Wells, Dan Whitehead, Katie Whittle Illustration and Steve White Art

Details about Comics Clock Tower exhibitors feature here on the official Festival web site

• Tickets for the 2019 Festival are on Sale Now at www.comicartfestival.com/buy-tickets | Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast



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