[T]he Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns for its fifth year to Kendal, Cumbria, from 13 to 15 October 2017. Celebrating comic art from across the world, the weekend festival takes over the town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District. This year, artists, creators and writers from Japan, the US, Canada, Australia, Finland, as well as other European comic creators will take part in the festival.
The launch event (Friday 13 October) features Sergio Aragonés, the world’s fastest cartoonist who is making a rare UK appearance. One of the most famous and influential living cartoonists, Sergio, perhaps best known for his work on MAD Magazine, is world renowned for his fast and witty cartooning style. He has won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award.
Sergio will be announcing the first ever recipient of The Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art as part of the festival opening night.
The festival features live comic drawing, films, exhibitions, comic trails, workshops, a free family zone and a comic marketplace featuring independent publishers. The events programme is bursting with opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the leading comic artists and writers from across the world. New for this year is a festival pass system for the festival. The main events programme will be exclusive to pass-holders and there will be an exclusive, guest-related comic art goody bag for all pass holders to collect on arrival.
Julie Tait, Festival Director said: “There is something for everyone at the festival this year whether you are super hero fan, mad about manga or just love seeing incredibly talented artists at work. We are thrilled to have such an amazing guest list this year with artists joining us from across the world and from so many different genres of comic art.”
The festival also features a comic marathon, Moomins inspired exhibitions, a free Family Zone with workshops, shows and activities aimed at all levels and ages, from pre-school to teens, from absolute beginners to experienced comics makers.
And don’t miss the wonderful windows on the Comic Art Trail as you wander around Kendal. All the artists involved, whether from local community groups or schools right through to professional artists, take their own approach to their individual shop and business windows.
Our Cartoon Cafe at the Warehouse Cafe, Brewery Arts Centre will feature some of the world’s leading comic creators including Charlie Adlard of Walking Dead fame, Duncan Fegredo, the Hellboy Artist and Eisner Award winning artist Sean Phillips. The cafe is an opportunity to try out the latest digital art tools from Wacom.
The legendary Comics Clock Tower is open on Saturday and Sunday all day and full of independent creators, publishers and retailers, representing a wide range of comics from around the world.
And make sure you make a beeline for the Canadian Comics Lodge and Finnish Village – both hosting events throughout the day during the festival.
Festival passes can be purchased from: www.comicartfestival.com
The Festival is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The Festival is also supported by South Lakeland District Council, Kendal BID and Kendal Town Council. Our main sponsors are Wacom, Lancaster University, University of Cumbria, comiXology and Westmorland Shopping Centre. Our founder partners are the Brewery Arts Centre and Kendal College.
