Second Comics Training School: COMICS CREATION AND CIVIC SOCIETY – Newcastle University 7-8 May 2024

The iCOn-MICs research project ‘Investigation on Comics and Graphic Novels from the Iberian Cultural Area’ is pleased to organise the Second Comics Training School at Newcastle University, titled ‘Comics Creation and Civic Society’. Comics scene is getting traction as result of the numerous self-creation festivals and comics conventions that bring together new generations of authors, researchers, and enthusiasts. There is a gradual incorporation of comics into the cultural circuit which moves away from massive production and consumption figures, but it is one that opens up to a broader readership.

The first Comics Training School at Newcastle University (7-9 Sept 2022) focused on online and physical resources (access to archives; public and private collections; institutions; analysis methodologies) for the historical study of graphic narrative.

The second Comics Training School at Newcastle University (7-8 May 2024) will focus on artistic creation and civic society. We will reflect on creativity and pathways for production via self-publication, zine festivals and online platforms with a special emphasis on the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking world, facilitating collaborations with local comics collectives (Paper Jam), British comics festivals, such as Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF), cultural institutions, such as BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and local communities. We focus the gaze on relations with civic society and how can comics help society to tackle and make sense of societal challenges, such as urban revitalization.  

The Comics Training School will combine academic sessions with scholars and artists reflecting on their research and artistic practice with more practical and hands on activities with the Art Diamonds local community around the Gateshead Riverside Park project. A workshop is planned at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on 8^th May.   

Invited artists/trainers:

Marta Cartu

Ana Galvañ

Nadia Hafid

Dr. Gerardo Vilches (Universidad Europea de Madrid) will deliver the keynote address, and the “Living Together” exhibition (Comic Art Europe), coordinated by Richard Foster (Associate Director of LICAF comics festival), will be inaugurated on 7 May.

For further details on conditions of eligibility for participants and the application process, please see the attached the following Call for Papers

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