Damiano Gallinaro of Italy’s comics organisation Fumettomania Factory shares his thoughts on this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, held in Bowness-on-Windermere…
The 2024 edition of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) has just been held in the wonderful location of Bowness-on-Windermere, in Cumbria, an hour’s drive from Manchester, for the last three years.
It is the place that inspired the famous writer Beatrix Potter – yes, the author who created the famous bunnies – and last month the small town was again invaded by a colourful and imaginative community of visiting illustrators, writers and fans, who have been meeting annually in the Lake District for years.
Although Fumettomania Factory APS has already participated at the last four editions, this was the first year we had an official presence at the Lakeside Comics Marketplace, dedicated to independent comic publishers, both British and international, and it was truly exciting.
Three of us set off for Bowness: translator Cesare Giombetti, a long-time resident in the United Kingdom (his latest work translated for the Italian market was World without End, by Jamie Delano and John Higgins for Nicola Pesce Editore); writer Alberto Conte, from Genoa (whose comics include L’ultimo della Lista, published by Magic Press, and The Devil’s Armchair, published by Caliber Comics) and myself, Damiano Gallinaro, a writer and anthropologist, from Rome.
Sharing the Marketplace experience and, therefore, sharing daily life with other exhibitors whose lives are devoted to creating comics, and their ideas, was both stimulating and definitely enriching.
Our little space was the object of curiosity and we were able to personally verify the affection and respect that the organisers of the Festival have always had towards us as an organisation: respect and support that is often and willingly lacking from those who are closest to us even geographically. Even various fans from various parts of the world stopped to talk to us, because they knew Italian comics, from Corto Maltese to Dylan Dog to Milo Manara etc.
We can only thank Julie and Carole Tait for their support, and the great comics expert and blogger John Freeman, who can’t wait to visit our beautiful Sicily on the occasion of the inaguration of the Library-Museum BAM Fumetto in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto.
There were many meetings in these three intense days.
First of all there was Bryan and Mary Talbot, who were among the first patrons of the Festival back in 2013 when it launched in Kendal, who have honoured us with their precious friendship for years and who, on various occasions and in various ways and have contributed to our future Library-Museum of Comics. It was nice to meet them and exchange ideas and emotions with them. We’re hoping to see each other again soon, perhaps in Sicily.
The presence at the Marketplace was also the lever that led us to meet new friends to add to the network that we are building year after year. And so thanks for the interest in some of the greatest artists who animated the Festival, from Dan Panosian (already interviewed by Fumettomania here in 2021), artist on Conan the Barbarian, to Sean Phillips, who drew live for us in an informal session; up to the Spanish trio, formed of DC comic artists Jorge Fornes and Bruno Redondo (who expressed the desire to come to Lucca next year), and the 2024 Sergio Aragones Award winner Juanjo Guarnido, co-creator of the wonderful Blacksad.
But it wasn’t not only the greats of comics have been interested in our small reality. A thank you also goes to the many exhibitors and artists who are very well known in England, but, unfortunately, are still little known by us who have shown us their affection, like Yomi Ayeni (here are his works, for those who don’t know him yet) … who brought us an imaginative Deadpool during the Festival’s opening night “Avengers: Uncivil War” event.
Our experience at LICAF was absolutely positive. It was important to be there and show what we can give to the European comics network, of which we are already part.
We already have great ideas for next year and we are sure that we will start from one more certainty, the BAM Fumetto, but we still need you, your support and your donations. The dream is very close to coming true, and if you want to contribute, a part of you will always be part of the dream.
Finally, we remind you that, if any comic book enthusiasts were thinking of taking a trip, they could combine the Festival with a visit to one of the most beautiful places in England, little known abroad, but a very popular tourist destination for the British. And the Festival is also suitable for families, because there are workshops for children run by important creators, who teach children not only to draw, but the various secrets of comics storytelling.
We look forward to returning in 2025.
Damiano, Cesare & Alberto
This is an English version of Damiano’s article first published here on the Fumettomania Factory APS. Our thanks to them for permission to cross post (you can find many downthetubes articles in Italian there, too) – it was a pleasure to meet these dedicated creators at LICAF 2024
Fumettomania Factory, based in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Messina in Sicily, co-ordinated by Mario Benenati, launched a new crowdfunding project for a comics museum in Sicily last month. Please check out the crowdfunding page, in Italian – “Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto: Un Nuovo Spazio per la Biblioteca del Fumetto” (“Barcelona Pozzo di Gotto: A New Space for the Comics Library”)
They are hoping to open a new Museum, offering a better welcome for visitors, young people, school groups, supporters, who will be able to stop to consult archive material, study, meet authors, participate in workshops and much more, in an environment located in the city centre, that’s both welcoming and dedicated to developing cultural and personal growth activities.
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Bowness-on-Windermere Friday 26th – Sunday 28th September 2025
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