2020 meant many changes for us, and the world around us. We cancelled the physical festival and ran a small, free online programme, celebrating the community and aiming to listen to current conversations.
Inspired by a ‘need for change’, there were opportunities to pause and reflect on an unusual year that forced a real shift in most of us. Through comics and narrative illustration we explored topics that felt important to us right now; careers and education, gender and race, protest, wellness and more.
Please see our Instagram page for the 2020 programme, which is archived in our posts and highlights.
Download ‘A Need for Change’ here
Centered around the subjects of Wellness, Rest & Care, Proactivity & Productivity and Thought & Activism. Some of the artists that would have been exhibitors at our festival this summer contributed generously to make this piece of work possible.
Learn how to make the animals in a food chain using egg cartons and old rubbish found around the house, and help to create a balanced eco-system. Perfect for kids aged 4-7 (or channel your inner kid and get involved!).
SEED Magazeen is run by Jack Snelling and Lizzie Lomax and is based around green & environmental ideas learnt through play. You can purchase the beautiful, riso printed magazine for kids on the SEED Magazeen website.
Download here: Make a Recycled River Food Chain
Download and take a quick quiz by New York based collective, Spicy Mango Comics; learn more about underrepresented Black and Brown women artists in publishing and comics before following the instructions to create your own illustrated zine from your research!
Download here: Who is My Zine Femme-Cestor?
Illustrations by Daisy Ruiz, Research and Quiz Questions by Julia Mata, Quiz Design Layout by Rachelle Hall.
Download a free zine making workshop ‘How to Make a Zine Without an Audience’ – it’s been made by our long time ELCAF friend and Hong Kong based artist Charlene Man – with exercises that explore belief, emotion, and what you truly care about!
Download here: How to Make a Zine Without an Audience
And here you can download Charlene’s finished example Zine: Vote for Coriander
We partnered with House of Illustration and commissioned illustrator Peony Gent to create two secondary school packs – an ‘Introduction to Comics’ and ‘Comics in the Curriculum’.
Designed especially for 11-14 year olds, they are a brilliant introduction into comics, and perfect for anyone currently homeschooling. Having said this – also great for anyone looking for some fun drawing prompts!
Peony Gent is a firm favourite of ours – her delicate, narrative style is easily recognisable. A regular ELCAF exhibitor, she’s previously run workshops and taken part in panel discussions for the festival. She is also currently House of Illustration’s 2020 Artist In Residence.
Download here: Introduction to Comics
Download here: Comics in the Curriculum
