Strip Turnhout
With the support of the Flemish Literature Fund, the Comic Strip Center in Brussels, Oogachtend and Sint-Lukas Brussel.
New Work New Audiences: UK ComicsCurrently in the UK the interest in comics and graphic novels is growing as specialised independent companies are growing and major publishing houses are developing their graphic novel lists. More comics artists are reaching mainstream audiences through books, film adaptations and exhibitions and this is resulting in an explosion of creative talent. The UK does not have a strong tradition of comics as in other European countries or in the US, but this allows for more innovative and unique work. Comics provide an approach to reading that reflects the multimedia nature of contemporary culture and, through comics, the British Council works with new artists and reaches readers reluctant to engage with other forms of literature.
British Council Benelux has been approached by Strip Turnhout, a non-profit organisation in Belgium which is organising, among other activities, the Strip Turnhout festival, a well established, bi-annual, comic book festival in Belgium. Having started to work with country guest of honour programmes with the USA in 2007, followed by Spain in 2009, they will invite the UK as guest of honour from 9 to 11 December 2011.
British Council Benelux is working in consultation with British Council Arts department, and more specifically with Literature department on Comic Books, to present new work within the wider New Work New Audiences project that has been launched globally by the British Council to showcase new talent from the UK overseas. Activities in the Benelux include: a comic books study tour, an expert meeting and the participation to the Strip Turnhout festival.
UK Comic Books study tour
The study tour took place from 12 to 16 December 2010 was aimed to build international networks, change perception of UK comic book scene, introduce producers in Benelux to exciting new UK work, help our overseas partners to have the expertise to show UK art to their audiences in the best way possible, show the UK as having an innovative and contemporary comic book scene and show how comic books can be used in cultural relations.
Download the report of the UK Comic Books Study Tour (PDF) and the Appendix to the report (PDF, in Dutch) "Rule Brittania. De Renaissance van de Britse strip” door Toon Horsten. Strip Gids, April 2011 (pp.12-18)
Expert meeting: AFTERNOON TEA AROUND BRITISH COMICS
This expert meeting is organised as a direct result of the partnership between British Council and Strip Turnhout, and the network that has been built during the study tour, including the Comic Strip Center in Brussels, the Flemish Literature Fund, Oogachtend, Sint-Lukas Brussels.
The event was a great success, attracting 30 professionals from the comics sector and more than 20 students from Sint-Lukas.
You can download the full report of the meeting. As an appendix, you can also download this very useful index written by Jan Cumps, a complete index of all published Strip Gids between October 2006 and June 2011 (in Dutch).
PROGRAMME
14.00-14.45: Introductory session, moderated by Canan Marasligil
- Welcome and Introduction, Canan Marasligil
- Short welcome by host, Willem De Graeve
- Comics and cultural relations, Manon de Ruijter/Robin Davies (British Council)
- Comic Book Study Tour to London: the Belgian delegation shares their experience, Els Aerts, Willem Degraeve, Toon Horsten, Johan Stuyck, Koen Van Rompaey
14.45-15.15: Networking break
15.15-17.00: UK Comics in Belgium: sharing, developing and exchanging talent, moderated by Els Aerts.
The view from the UK
- Overview of UK comics sector by Paul Gravett
- Woodrow Phoenix on being a comic book artist in the UK
- Karrie Fansman on her comics and comic youth work
The view from Belgium
- Johan Stuyck on the student exchange programme and the Oogachtend graphic novels translated into English
- Koen Van Rompaey presents the UK as a guest of honour at the Strip Turnhout Festival 2011
17.00-17.45: Plenary discussion, moderated by Els Aerts
17.45-18.00 Closing remarks
For more information contact katri.maenpaa@britishcouncil.be
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