Launched on 19 February 2021, SelfMadeHero’s Graphic Anthology Programme (GAP) is designed to find, develop, publish and promote emerging comic-book artists from Black and minority Ethnic backgrounds from across the UK.
Working in partnership with Spread the Word, SelfMadeHero will take eight emerging comic-book artists and give them the necessary tools to become publishable creators through a 12-week programme.
Participants that are successful will embark on a 12-week online mentoring programme led by five established graphic novelists: Asia Alfasi, Catherine Anyango Grünewald, Sonia Leong, Mustashrik Mahbub and Woodrow Phoenix.
With these mentors’ support, each participant will create a graphic short story, which will then be included in an anthology to be published by SelfMadeHero in October 2021.
“The UK comics scene is young, vibrant and culturally progressive, yet there remains a lack of ethnic diversity among published artists and writers,” says SelfMadeHero’s Managing Director Emma Hayley.
“A 2020 survey by UK Comics found that Black and Minority Ethnic artists were less likely to be published by traditional print publishers than their white counterparts. The launch of our Graphic Anthology Programme marks an important step in acknowledging, addressing and reducing this disparity.”
Fellow GAP mentor Catherine Anyango Grünewald adds: “I hope that the Graphic Anthology Programme platform can empower its readers to enrich and expand their worldview, and empower the artists involved to trust in the importance of their stories and the beauty of their expression.”
So, if The GAP is of interest and you meet the submission requirements find further information here: www.selfmadehero.com/graphic-anthology-programme
Super exciting news, I'm looking forward to what new talent they help to produce!