SHOW ME THE: PROFESSIONALISM – Online, 27th October 2020

In this last event in the series we’ll be talking about what support we need as comics creators and where to find it. What rights and legal protections do we have? Where can we turn for advice? How can we go about acquiring new skills? At the end of the day, who is advocating for comics creators?

Panel guests: comics creator, podcaster and educator Dan Berry, comics creator and co-founder of the Association of Comics Creators Jennie Gyllblad, comics writer, film-maker and previous Film & TV Charity consultant Sara Kenney, comics creator and Senior Research Fellow at UWE Bristol Simon Moreton, and comics creator, author and Society of Authors Management Committee member Woodrow Phoenix.

SHOW ME THE: AUDIENCE – Online, 8pm, 13th October 2020

When we get down to it, is this the real source of all our problems? Who is actually reading our work – is it anyone outside of the comics community? Is there really something in the medium for everyone? How can we increase our readership? Are any traditional routes available to us, or do we need to get creative to spread the word?

Panel Guests: award-winning author and Head of Marketing at Avery Hill Publishing Katriona Chapman, award-winning author and teacher Karrie Fransman, famous and award-winning webcomics creator Alex Norris, editor of the award-winning PanelxPanel and YouTuber Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and award-winning author and founder of Graphic Medicine Dr Ian Williams.

SHOW ME THE: ACCESS – Online, 8pm, 29th September 2020

Let’s grab the tongs and seize that burning issue of ‘industry’ access: what constitutes success in the UK comics scene and who gets to have it? Is it a meritocratic free-for-all, or are there gatekeepers? What barriers and prejudices do creators face? Is it all about who you know? Who gets to tell their stories?

Panel Guests: Artist, author and comics industry veteran Patrice Aggs; director of Comics Salopia and ICE festivals Shane Chebsey; co-founder of comics publisher BHP, the 9 Panels Agency and Glasgow Comic Con Sha Nazir; host of WIP Comics group and podcast and founder of Hackney Comic & Zine Fair Joe Stone; and author, academic and co-founder of LD Comics Dr Nicola Streeten.

SHOW ME THE: MONEY – Online, 8pm, 16th September 2020

According to the survey results, an astonishing 87% of comics creators rely on income from other sources.

This second discussion event focusses on the big, dirty issue of MONEY. What are we earning? Where is it coming from? How can we get more of it? Do we even deserve more of it?

Panel Guests: esteemed comics and Manga artist and Company Secretary of Sweatdrop Studios, Sonia Leong; award-winning cartoonist, author and illustrator Stephen Collins; Hot-off-the-press author and co-moderator of the Let’s Talk Pricing feedback group, Charlot Kristensen; industry veteran and co-publisher of Soaring Penguin, Tim Pilcher; and Thought Bubble Festival Administrator and co-creator of the brilliant Fair Pay For Artists Campaign, Chloe Green.

COMICS CREATOR SURVEY Q&A – Online, 8pm, 1st September 2020

What does it all mean? What does that data tell us about the comics scene, exactly? What are the implications of the findings, and how can they be applied? And why did we ask the questions we did, anyway? I’ll be chairing an online Q&A with the members of the Audience Agency who gathered and analysed your data, plus Sara Kenney and Charlotte Bailey who helped shape the survey itself.