Date revealed for return of Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere

After the success of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere the dates for next year’s event have been announced as September 29 to October 1 2023.

Putting the Lake into the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, the weekend-long event will be just part of a dynamic, year-round programme of international comic art activity, based in the heart of the Lake District National Park.

With its continuing mission of using comics to change the world, the Festival’s work, which includes an academic conference in February at the University of Manchester, is supported by major partners that include Arts Council England, the Lake District National Park Authority, South Lakeland District Council, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and Lancaster University.

Since its inception in 2013, the annual Festival has been held in Kendal, but for its tenth year, the core of the Festival took over multiple venues within Bowness-on-Windermere.

The move was met with delight by locals and comic fans alike, and plans for next year will incorporate feedback from this year’s attendees to make the very most of the new location.

Guests have yet to be announced, and exhibitor applications will open in January.

Julie Tait, festival director said: “We’ve been blown away by the response to the move to Bowness-on-Windermere, which we always knew would present an incredible opportunity to bring the wonder of comics to new audiences, within an iconic, world-heritage landscape.

“The move was always about re-imagining the Festival for a new era, and the feedback we’ve had will really help shape our offer next September.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our regular Festival visitors and new audiences to LICAF 2023.”

Lakes Arts Festivals, who run LICAF, is also planning to run comic art activity in many other cities and towns throughout the UK, including Kendal, along with an extensive international programme.