Who makes comics in the UK? How are they doing? Let’s find out!
Ever since I wrote this extremely huffy article about how I was never making another graphic novel because I couldn’t make it work financially, the situation has been bugging me. I knew, anecdotally, that very few people get paid in comics, but how bad is it really? How many people are actually making a living out of this? How many others are struggling? What if it’s just me? Is it just me? I’ll be furious if it’s just me.
So I’ve created an anonymous online survey for everyone making comics in the UK; everybody from established figures to emerging creators.
The questions cover who we are and what we’re doing; how much we’re earning and from which sources; how much we’re having to subsidise that from other means; what obstacles we’re facing and what support we might need; plus (new for 2020!) how the current pandemic has affected our livelihoods and working practices.
Bright sparks Charlotte Bailey and Sara Kenney helped me design the questions themselves, because as the first industry-wide census it feels as though there’s a lot riding on it. The project has been funded by Arts Council England, the British Council and the University of Dundee and the data is being collected and analysed by the Audience Agency. It should take approximately 20 minutes to complete and you can be entered into a prize draw at the end of it. Well worth it!
I’m hoping we can then use this data to start a discussion about how we can improve our industry and support creators working in it. I’ve also set up a mailing list you can subscribe to for the announcement of when the final report is ready, and receive information on how you can be involved with upcoming events discussing the findings…
