Coming soon to the North West is Make Mine Manga, a free, touring exhibition for anyone curious about manga, as well as the avid fan.
The exhibition explores the origins of manga in Japan, the creative techniques behind the art and the wonder of Manga-Anime. The exhibition features artwork from incredible creators from Japan and UK manga creators.
The exhibition has been specially created by Paul Gravett, comic publisher, fan and author of Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, and has been led by Bolton Library Services, on behalf of a consortium of libraries in the North West. It’s been funded by Arts Council England under its Project Grants scheme and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is one of the delivery partners.
The Magnetism of Manga
Manga have become a pop-culture phenomenon in the UK and, if you’ve been into any branch of Waterstones, or your local comic shop, you probably already know more and more people are reading them; and six of the top ten bestselling graphic novelists in Britain are by Japanese manga authors.
In this exhibition, visitors will be able explore how these comics evolved first in Japan and how their brilliant creators continue to expand the medium, and discover today’s generation of award-winning British talents making manga their own way into a truly global language.
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is an annual comic art Festival and advocate for comic art. Established in 2013, the not-for-profit festival takes place annually over a weekend in the Autumn, originally in Kendal, and, since last year, in multiple venues in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Manga Workshops, Too
As part of Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries, a county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries, taking place from 7th – 11th June 2023, there will also be a number of Manga workshops also taking place.
Inspired by the exhibition, manga artists Chie Kutsuwada and Inko Ai Takita will be running several creative workshops organised by Manchester City of Literature, where participants create their own four panel manga comic.
Several workshops have also been announced, at Bolton Library on Sunday 11th June and Sunday 11th August; Bury Library on Friday 9th June; Stretford Library on Saturday 10th June; and Stalybridge Library on Saturday 10th June 2023.
• For the latest information on the Make Mine Manga Exhibition head to manchestercityofliterature.com/event/make-mine-manga-exhibition
LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMIC ART FESTIVAL: ONLINE MAKE MINE MANGA RESOURCES
• How to draw manga with Inko
• How to draw manga with Chie
• Manga colouring
Make Mine Manga Exhibition Tour dates
Bolton Central Library
7th June 2023 – 30th June 2023
Crompton Place Shopping Centre, 20-21 Hotel Street, Bolton BL1 1DA
Web: https://www.bolton.gov.uk/directory-record/2/central-library
Manchester Central Library
10th July 2023 – 18th August 2023
St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD
Web: manchester.gov.uk/centrallibrary
Birkenhead Central Library
4th September 2023 – 30th September 2023
Borough Rd, Birkenhead CH41 2XB
Web: wirral.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/find-library/birkenhead-central-library
Atkinson Public Library
16th October 2023 – 18th November 2023
Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB
Web: theatkinson.co.uk/visit-us/thelibrary/
St Helens Library
1st December 2023 – 20th December 2023
The World of Glass, Chalon Way E, Saint Helens WA10 1BX
Web: sthelens.gov.uk/libraries
Halton Lea Library
15th January 2024 – 17th February 2024
Second Ave, Palacefields, Runcorn WA7 2PF
Web: library.haltonbc.info
Huyton Library
4th March 2024 – 30th March 2024
Civic Way, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9GD
Web: yourlibrary.knowsley.gov.uk/branches/huyton/
Barrow-in-Furness Central Library
15th April 2024 – 18th May 2024
Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 1LL
Web: westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Bowness-on-Windermere 29th September to 1st October 2023 | Head to the Festival’s official web site now and book your weekend tickets at a special “Early Bird” price, an offer that ends 31st May 2023
• Early backers of the Little LICAF Crowdfundr can choose to buy a Festival 2023 Weekend Ticket for just £20, but only a limited number are available.
• Buy your “Frankie Boyle and Josie Long Talk Comics” Festival Opening Night tickets here
• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is online at: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Little LICAF on Facebook | Little LICAF on Instagram
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