Second wave of guests for October announced

We're pleased to announce more guests for its Festival weekend in Kendal (12th – 14th October 2018), who include veteran British comics artist Ian Kennedy and New Yorker illustrator Stanley Chow.

The latest guests revealed are Steven Appleby, Sayra Begum, Corey Brotherson, Stanley Chow, Alan Grant, Ian Kennedy, Steve McGarry, Graeme McNee, Emmi Nieminen and Ken Niimura.

Festival Podcast spotlights North American Conventions and more

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast does like to treat its many listeners, and with Episode 24 the team have included two great interviews that turn the spotlight on the world of North American comic conventions.

First guests announced and Early Bird tickets now on sale for LICAF 2018!

We are delighted to announce our first guests for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival weekend in Kendal from 12 - 14 October 2018.

LICAF Festival Programming

About Lakes Arts Festivals

Lakes Arts Festivals was established in 2012 to create and present an annual international comic art festival (as opposed to a commercial comic con) – the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) and associated educational projects.

Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast celebrates first birthday with Rachael Smith interview

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is celebrating its first birthday by interviewing Rachael Smith, creator of The Rabbit and the biographical comic Wired Up Wrong.

Rachael Smith’s debut graphic novel House Party came out in 2014 with Great Beast Comics to critical acclaim. The Rabbit, released by Avery Hill Publishing in 2015, was her second graphic novel and was nominated for Best Book in the British Comic Awards 2014/15.

Latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival podcast spotlights Awesome Comics Podcast and Macc-Pow

The fabulous Awesome Comics Podcast turned the spotlight on the Lakes International Comic Art Festival podcast recently, so it’s no surprise the Kendal-based audio adventurers have returned the favour!

Latest Festival Podcast probes the process of Creating Comics

There's a very different episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival out now. Rather than interviewing a comic creator, the team pick comic artist Pete Taylor's brains about how to create a comic.

Starting from the beginning with thinking up ideas to writing and then drawing the comic, Pete, co-creator of Monster Kids, guides you through the entire process, finishing up with what many creators believe is the hardest part - promotion.

14-18 NOW "Traces of the Great War" international comic anthology announced

Kendal, Monday 22nd January 2018: The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce Traces of the Great War, a new and ambitious anthology publication exploring the traces and impact of the First World War on our lives today.

Featuring over 20 internationally acclaimed comic artists and writers, the project has been jointly commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary, and La Mission du Centenaire.

Fumio Obata's "On the Palm of Unknown" exhibition opens in Whitehaven

A ground-breaking exhibition of comic art by Fumio Obata, On the Palm of Unknown, has gone on display at the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria, running until 25th March 2018.

Commissioned by Lakes International Comic Arts Festival, the art project makes surprising connections between the nuclear plants at Fukushima and Sellafield.

Zoom Rockman announced as new Festival Patron

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce its latest patron - cartoonist Zoom Rockman, who sprang to comics fame at a young age with his work for the humour weekly, Beano.

Zoom Rockman is a British artist/ satirist whose comic strip, Skanky Pigeon first appeared in the Beano when he was 12 years old. Age 16, he became the youngest cartoonist in Private Eye magazine history.