Under the title Comics Can Change the World, LICAF is delivering projects in our local community, across our region and country and with partners internationally.
We continue to explore how comics can galvanise efforts to address the climate emergency, how they can play a significant role in education - from primary schools to higher education - and much more.
Comic Potential
Comic Potential is a new project, made possible through grant aid from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, via their Art-based Learning Fund.
It aims to explore how comics can support two primary and two special schools in Cumbria, to increase the enjoyment of reading in class, develop skills to support storytelling, writing and drawing; and increase confidence and well-being through techniques for self-expression for pupils.
Ultimately the project aims to support learning outcomes for pupils.
The project will also help teachers understand of how comics can support reading; develop a range of comic-based techniques to support pupils’ learning across the curriculum; and offer access to a range of online teaching resources and guides to support future teaching.
Schools will receive a selection of comics to populate their school libraries and professional comic artists including Marc Jackson, Mollie Ray and Jim Medway will deliver in-class workshops in all the schools.
Pupils will also receive weekly copies of The Phoenix Comic, delivered to their home so they can continue to explore comics with their family.
The project will be monitored and evaluated by researchers at the University of Manchester to assess the impact of the two-year project on pupils and identify the unique positive properties of comics in the classroom.
The project builds upon a previous LICAF led project at Abraham Moss Primary School in Crumpsall, Manchester, funded by Comic Art Europe.
Participating schools
Cambridge Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness
Sandgate Special School, Kendal
George Haswell School, Special Academy, Barrow-in-Furness
Vickerstown Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness
