WOMCOM Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia

WOMCOM: WOMEN POWER IN COMICS international conference

— FRI, 11. 10. 2024,  16.00–20.00 / Kino Šiška
— SAT, 12. 10. 2024, 13.30–19.00 / Kino Šiška

At the conclusion of the international project WOMCOM: Women Power in Comics, which explores the representation of women and the roles of female creators in the field of comics, the Tinta Comics Festival will host a two-day comics conference in Ljubljana (Slovenia). Alongside female artists, publishers, editors, and researchers, we will reflect on the current and future perspectives of comics production and examine the power of comics as an emancipatory tool for potential social change. We will also highlight various artistic, community, and activist practices that fuel creativity and solidarity within the regional and international comics scene.

Speakers: Dr. Nicola Streeten (UK), Eva Hilhorst (NL), Rita Fürstenau (DE), Dr. Eszter Szép (HU), Jana Adamović (RS), Dragana Radanović (RS), Nina Bunjevac (CA), Noémie Marsily (BE),
Anna Haifisch (DE), Mihaela Erceg (HR), Zsófi Rumi (HU)

PROGRAMME:

DAY 1: Building the Communities & Futures of Comics
— FRI, 11. 10. 2024,  16.00–20.00 / Kino ŠiškaThe conference will begin with a lecture by Dr. Nicole Streeten, one of Europe's leading researchers in feminist comics and the driving force behind the British association LDComics. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of building comics communities — from encouraging original production and fostering networks of solidarity to developing (infra)structure — with Eva Hilhorst, founder of the graphic journalism platform Drawing the Times, Rita Fürstenau, publisher of the renowned publishing house Rotopol, Jana Adamović, andDragana Radanović, co-founders of the Serbian comics collective Comic-Aunties.

16.00–16.15 / Welcome
16.15–17.15 / Dr. Nicola Streeten (UK), DOING IT OURSELVES (DIO): Generosity, Reciprocity and Conviviality, lecture
17.30–18.00 / Eva Hilhorst (NL), Drawing the Times & Comics Journalism, presentation
18.00–18.30 / Rita Fürstenau (DE), Publishing Comics: The Case of Rotopol, presentation
18.45–19.45 / Comics Communities (virtual & in-person), debate
Participants: Dr. Nicola Streeten (UK), Eva Hilhorst (NL), Rita Fürstenau (DE), Dragana Radanović (RS), Jana Adamović (RS); moderator: Dr. Eszter Szép (HU)
19.45–20.00 / WOMCOM digital platform, presentation

DAY 2: Making Comics: A Closer Look
— SAT, 12. 10., 13.30–19.00 / Kino Šiška

The Saturday’s programme of the WOMCOM conference joins the already traditional accompanying fair programme of the Tinta Comics Festival at Kino Šiška. We will focus on artistic collectives, initiatives, and projects that foster creativity and broaden the diversity of comics scenes locally and internationally: the Serbian comics collective Stripotetke, the Croatian comics magazine Strip-PREFIKS, as well as the Ukmukfukk Zine Festival, the International Comics Festival Budapest, and the independent publisher Hurrikan Press from Hungary. Visiting female comics creators from around the world will share their knowledge and experience through masterclasses and talks, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how comics are made.

13.30–14.15 / Comics Connections, presentation and debate
Participants: Jana Adamović (RS), Mihaela Erceg (HR), ZsófiaRumi (HU), Eszter Szép (HU); moderator: Pia Nikolič
14.30–15.15 / Noémie Marsily (BE), masterclass
15.30–16.00 / Katarina Šeme (SI):From the Cave, graphic novel launch
16.15–17.00 / Nina Bunjevac (CA), conversation
18.15–19.00 / Anna Haifisch (DE), masterclass

The conference will be moderated by Dr. Eszter Szép (HU) and Pia Nikolič (SI).

Drawn documentation: Anna Júlia Benczédi (RO/HU).
The conference will be held in English.
More about the programme: www.tinta.si.

The international project WOMCOM: Women Power in Comics aims to foster collaboration and engagement among comic authors with the goal of investigating and addressing gender issues in comics as well as empowering female comic artists.  womcom.io

Organization: Kino Šiška.
The WOMCOM project is co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. Project partners: Kino Šiška (SI), SKCNS Fabrika (RS), AKC Attack (HR), Bakelit Multi Art Center (HU), PostScriptum (GR), Association for Comic Affirmation (MNE).

Free admission