Sicily’s cultural association Fumettomania Factory, active locally, regionally and nationally in Italy since 1991 is looking for more comic creators from across the globe to take part in its long term project, Anthropocene, aka We Could Save our Planet, which has already attracted support from Bryan and Mary Talbot and American comic creator Scott Hampton.
Responding to the climate emergency, the organisation has joined the international call to raise awareness of the issue, supporting the call to save the planet for future generations.
Following the positive results of the previous seven editions of the cultural-didactical project Leggendo un Fumetto (Reading a Comics), the organisation came up the Anthropocene project last year, which is aimed primarily at schools, to take place in the 2021/2022 academic year, dependent in part on the impact the Pandemic may still have.The are also working with several Italian cultural associations spread all over the country, and with both national and international comic creators, artists and writers.
The principal aim of the project is to raise awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in young pupils, educating them to use their knowledge to make their lifestyle eco-friendly, reduce the costs of environmental campaigns and find innovative solutions to these problems.
So far, 20 comic creators from across the globe have stepped up to take part. Artists involved announced so far are Britain’s Bryan Talbot, Scott Hampton, from the United States, Jok Coglitore, from Argentina, Italian artists Roberta Sakka, Lelio Bonaccorso, Pietro Vanessi, Anna Leotta), Maria Celeste Arena, Antonino Barreca, and six to seven young Italian artists who collaborate with Il Foglio Letterario Editions.
Writers announced so far include Mary Talbot, and Italians Marco Sonseri, Sergio Rossi, Dario Janese, Donatella Manna, and three to four other young writers.
Climate changes call for our awareness,” explains Mario Benenati, President and creator of the project. “We need to do something in order to denounce what is going on and try to save our planet.
“Our children, grandchildren and pupils we meet in schools are begging for it,” he urges.
The aim of the Fumettomania Factory comics project is to raise awareness and knowledge about environmental problems in young students, educating them to use this knowledge to make their lifestyle more sustainable, reducing daily environmental costs and finding innovative solutions to problems. put in place by the European Agenda 2030 for development.
Working with some of the greatest artists of the Ninth Art, the Fumettomania Factory Association believes comics are the perfect medium to deliver a powerful message about the climate emergency in words and pictures, aiming to stimulate the commitment and creativity of the men and women of tomorrow to making a positive change.
Creators who want to participate should create can submit illustrations or brief stories, essays or articles, either digitally or on paper, addressing current concerns such as climate change, environmental pollution, global warming, endangered flora and fauna, illegal wild animal trade, ocean pollution and so on.
The deadline to take part is 31st March 2021 (first delivery), 31st August 2021 (second), and a third, for exhibitions next year, of 30th November 20211, and a fourth of 31st March 2022
Anyone who is interested in being part of the project should first check out the documentary, Anthropocene – The Human Epoch, available free on YouTube, in English as well as the project’s web site.
Work is in progress to open a temporary art gallery and exhibition of work in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, in Messina, Sicily, from 24th October to 21st November 2021, accompanying professionally-realised illustrations and comics stories with those from students of primary and secondary schools who have taken part in the project.
Subject to Pandemic restrictions being lifted later this year, the Association will also be inviting some of the creators who have taken part in the project for meetings and presentations of their books or graphic novels, everything taking place during a month devoted to reading organised at Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, which it’s hoped will take place from 24th October to 21st November 2021.
The Fumettomania Factory Association will also be working with various cultural organisations, both in Italy and internationally, looking to offer a travelling exhibition of works selected, aiming to stir debate on matters such as climate change, environmental pollution, global warming, endangered flora and fauna, illegal wild animal trade, ocean pollution and more. A book collecting exhibited work will also be published, subject to financing being available.
This all sounds very exiting, mirroring the aims of other recently-announced comics projects focusing on climate change issue, such as 10 Years to Save the World, supported by the British Council.
• The first exhibition will take place at Barcelona Pozzo di Gotto, 24th October – 21st November 2021 (provisional date, depending on the health emergency), followed by exhibitions in other Italian cities through 2022, and internationally
After joining the project, each creator will receive a subsequent dossier with a series of useful links.
• Check out the Anthropocene film project at theanthropocene.org
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.
Categories: Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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