From Marvel to Manga – Lake District Comic Arts Festival turns 10
Artists, writers and comic creators from over 25 countries are heading to the Lake District next month for a major festival.
Now in its 10th year, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be held in Bowness-on-Windermere from October 14-16.
Organizers say the anniversary year will see a reinvigorated format, a new location, and a new mission to use comics to change the world.
The family festival will take place at several venues in Bowness-on-Windermere including The Old Laundry Theatre, Windermere Jetty Museum and The Lakesview Comic Marketplace at Lakes View – a lakeside bar and restaurant with spectacular views.
Festival guests include Guardian cartoonists Martin Rowson and Posy Simmonds; Simpsons artist Bill Morrison; Steve McGarry, one of the filmmakers of the film Minions; Alison Bechdel, Eisner Award winner, author of The Secret to Superhuman Strength; Charlie Adlard, artist on The Walking Dead comics; and superhero comic artists who certainly know their Spider-Man from their Catwoman!
Festival Director Julie Tait said, “We are thrilled to have over 100 guests and exhibitors with us to celebrate the amazing world of comics and comic art. Comics play a vital role in promoting literacy, telling new stories and tackling the biggest issues of our time. I urge all lovers of art, literature and culture to come and discover how comics can really change the world.
The program includes live drawing, creative workshops, lectures, presentations, a comic market, debates, cartoonists, satire, exhibitions and some of the most amazing comic artists from around the world. .
The festival also features a cartoon course around Bowness and a reinvigorated crazy golf course full of cartoon characters.
The festival will open with a very special Comics on Comics event, combining comedians with comic artists, featuring special guests Charlie Higson, who writes comics as well as TV shows, books and more, Adele Cliff, a Battle of the Superheroes panelist at the Edinburgh Fringe and Lucy Porter, a comedian who apparently needs compelling comics are really good!
The Lakeview Comics Marketplace is a free comic art center; Windermere Jetty Museum is the place to go for free family events for kids brought to you by Little LICAF. There’s a boat trip event on Windermere with comic legend, cartoonist Posy Simmonds and Yellow Submarine – Bill Morrison’s Odyssey Through Pepperland exhibition at the Windermere Jetty Museum.
A festival shuttle will be available between venues.
Festival partners and supporters include Arts Council England, the Lake District National Park Authority, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council.
