Important news about the next Lakes International Comic Art Festival: if you are a creator, publisher or retailer, the Comic Clock Tower, their version of a comics marketplace and artists’ alley, is now open for applications. From this year, entry to the clocktower will be free and open to members of the public.
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival will again put a spotlight for one fantastic weekend on the brilliance, diversity and quirkiness of comic art in Kendal (17th – 19th October 2014). One of the ways they will be doing this is in the Comics Clock Tower, their version of a comics marketplace and artists’ alley.
This is your chance to meet creators, see them sketch, get work signed as well as buy books, prints and more. Some work will be available for the first time at the festival.
This will not be like the traditional marketplaces that people are used to at comic conventions. For one thing the venue is relatively small so the origanisers have had to make choices and limit the number of creators and stalls they can offer to our audiences. They’ll be aiming to feed the hunger of existing comic art fans of all genres whilst, we hope, appealing to a curious, new audience eager to find out more. There’ll be a mix of retailers (such as Forbidden Planet), publishers (large and small) and creators and more.
They’’ll also be showcasing both established and emerging talent drawn from across the UK, Europe and further afield with a healthy contingent from Cumbria, the North West and greater North of England too.
Most of the Festival’s international guests who feature in the main events programme will also be appearing in the Comics Clock Tower over the weekend to sign and sketch and meet their fans.
Remember there is plenty of free activity in the festival and the Comics Clock Tower will also be free in 2014.
• If you are a creator, publisher or retailer who would like to exhibit in the Comics Clock Tower in 2014 the application process is now open. Please first read the LICAF CCT Exhibitor Information Pack and then complete and return the LICAF CCT Exhibitor Application Form.
Application forms should be returned by email to: jenny@comicartfestival.com or posted to: LICAF CCT Applications, Suite 3 Sand Aire House, New Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4UJ to arrive no later than Friday 28 February 2014.
If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to email Jenny.
• Read Jeremy Briggs photo report of LICAF 2013
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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