Deadline: 30 June 2024
The Sharjah Art Foundation is inviting GCC-based artists to apply for the sixth edition of its annual comic anthology to broaden and diversify the creative scope of Corniche, an annual comic anthology compiling the works of illustrators and comic book artists from the GCC.
The publication takes an exploratory and free-flowing approach to its process, allowing for a range of genres to be published together, including biography, science fiction, fantasy, mythology and art history.
Illustrators and comic artists are invited to submit pitches for a six-page comic to be considered for publication in the sixth edition of Corniche. The selected artists will be invited for a three-day creative exchange in Sharjah. The final comics will be compiled and published as an anthology.
Corniche 6 will launch at the Foundation’s upcoming art book fair, Focal Point 2024 (22–24 November).
- Focal Point is an annual art book fair showcasing independent bookmaking from the region and around the world. Audiences will find a compelling selection of printed material by artists’ presses, bookmakers, self-publishers and non-commercial cultural producers. As part of its commitment to expanding and experimenting with the medium of publishing, Focal Point includes talks, book launches, artists’ signings, workshops, music and artist-made products.
- An initiative of Sharjah Art Foundation, Focal Point spotlights UAE-based publishers and functions as a critical space for knowledge sharing and community building. The fair is held annually in November at Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, a heritage site within Sharjah’s historical quarter.
Who can apply?
- Any GCC-based illustrator and/or comic artist, aged 18 and older, can submit an application.
What do you need to submit?
- Alongside other basic information indicated in the form, applicants need to attach the following as part of their comic pitch:
- Art portfolio
- Story synopsis
- Rough storyboard
- Rough sketch of one page
- Your entire comic or idea does not need to be finalised at the time of application, but the general direction of your storyline is considered and your illustration style is assessed. Once selected, you will be given time to finalise the comic.
Criteria
- Artists are required to submit exactly six pages (three spreads). Submissions containing more or fewer than six pages will be automatically rejected. However, artists may include as many panels on each page as they like.
- For your initial pitch, ensure that the attachments, whether digital or scanned, can be clearly viewed and read, keeping in mind that the final format will be a colour paperback (20 x 20 cm). A resolution of 300 dpi is encouraged.
- You can use the medium of your choice—traditional, digital or multimedia—to execute the comic (and initial pitch).
- You can submit the comic in either English or Arabic. Comics without dialogue or other text are also encouraged. Whichever language you choose, make sure it reads well and is proofed for grammatical and typographical accuracy.
- Your subject may be either personal or fictional, but please be mindful of the UAE’s cultural sensitivities regarding religion, politics and explicit content.
For more information, visit Sharjah Art Foundation.
