Comic Potential

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.

Comics Up Close - New Perspectives in Comics comes to Manchester next February

It’s time to book your place for the upcoming Lakes International Comic Art Festival's "Comics Up Close" event, discussing new perspectives in comics for comics inspired academics, researchers and students; comics creatives and teachers, returns in 2023. Speakers will include Dave McKean and Benoît Peeters.

Stephen L. Holland Continues as Comics Laureate until October 2023

Current Comics Laureate, comics advocate, freelance artist, comic retailer and tutor Stephen L. Holland is to continue in post until October 2023, his tenure partially interrupted by the Pandemic – but despite that, has proven an unstoppable force when it comes to promoting comics and comics creation since taking up the post in October 2020.

Making a Mark with Little LICAF’s Silent Comic Challenge

Discover Little LICAF's Free Teaching Resource for 2022/23!

Our theme for this task draws on various comic elements, including silent storytelling and mindful mark-making.

Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Comic Art Europe, partner for IN BETWEEN Festival exhibition in Beirut

The British Council Lebanon is hosting the IN BETWEEN Festival, running from 16th – 20th November 2022 in Beirut, which includes a comic strip presentation by Bernard Hage, commonly known as “The Art of Boo”.

The presentation is funded by Comic Art Europe, of which the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is a project partner.

Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Bowness in September 2023

After the success of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere the dates for next year’s event have been announced as 29th September – 1st October 2023.

Putting the Lake into the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, the weekend-long event will be just part of a dynamic, year-round programme of international comic art activity, based in the heart of the Lake District National Park.

Lakes international Comic Art Festival supports Cumbria’s “Feed and Read” project

Hot on the heels of the hugely successful Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere this weekend, attracting thousands of comic fans to its new lakeside location, Luke and Joe McGarry are taking part in events for Cumbria County Council’s “Feed and Read” programme this week across the county, during half term week.

Cartoonist Posy Simmonds announced as 2022 winner of Sergio Aragones Award

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce cartoonist Posy Simmonds as the winner of the Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art for 2022.

Wolf & Wood Creative Director Ryan Bousfield joins Lakes Festival line up

We’re delighted to announce we’ll have a special guest joining comics and games writer Jörg Tittel on stage with 2000AD artist Mick McMahon on Sunday for “Our Love of Gaming” panel at the Old Laundry Theatre next weekend: Ryan Bousfield, creative director of Wolf & Wood, developers behind the hugely-anticipated, already award-winning, The Last Worker game.

Lakes Festival Focus: An Interview with comic creator Bianca Bagnarelli

As the countdown continues toward the Lakes International Comic Art Festival this month in Bowness-on-Windermere (14th – 16th October 2022), here’s another in a series of interviews with some of the guests – a quick chat with comic creator Bianca Bagnarelli, an Italian cartoonist and illustrator.

Her first comic volume, Fish, published by Nobrow, won the gold medal for the short form at the Society of Illustrators of New York.