WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Comic Arts Festival (ICAF) is proud to announce it will hold its tenth anniversary conference at the Library of Congress in 2005.
ICAF is an international summit for scholars, creators, and enthusiasts of comics and cartoon art. The three-day event includes academic papers, chalk talks by distinguished cartoonists, and lectures by scholars from around the globe. While ICAF has been held in the Washington, D.C. area since its inception in 1995, ICAF 2005 marks the first time ICAF has joined with the Library of Congress.
ICAF 2005 will take place from Thursday, October 13 through Saturday, October 15, at the James Madison Building of the Library of Congress, with the generous support of the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division and the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon. The Swann Foundation, administered by the Library of Congress, supports the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of cartoon art from around the world, and has frequently sponsored lectures and exhibits related to comics.
“We’re very excited about holding ICAF at the Library of Congress, and grateful for the support of the Library and the Swann Foundation,” says ICAF Chair Charles Hatfield. “Working with the Library gives us a rare opportunity to encourage the serious study of comics and cartooning. The Swann Foundation is a perfect partner, and the Library the perfect place to bring together scholars and the general public – a historic venue known for its great collections and its support of important research, not to mention its beauty and its great location.”
Dr. Jeremy Adamson, chief of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, notes, “Few people realize that the Library is home to one of the world’s great collections of original cartoon art, encompassing virtually the entire history and scope of comics. Recognizing the scholarly significance of cartoons as potent vehicles of social and political commentary, and spontaneous expressions of contemporary fashion, values, and attitudes, we are pleased to support ICAF 2005.”
ICAF is currently in the process of soliciting paper proposals and inviting distinguished guests for 2005.
ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CARTOON COLLECTIONS
The Library of Congress houses the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, the Swann Gallery, and one of the world’s most extensive and diverse collections of comic strips, comic books, and cartoon drawings. Learn more about the Library’s cartoon-related collections at their official Web site
ABOUT ICAF
The International Comic Arts Festival is an annual conference dedicated to promoting the scholarly study and public appreciation of comics from around the world. ICAF aims to foster the recognition of comic art, to encourage collaboration between academics, independent scholars, comics professionals and the wider public, and to provide an accessible, public showcase for innovative comic art and comics scholarship.
In addition to presentations by renowned comics storytellers, ICAF offers many shorter academic presentations. These panels form the backbone of ICAF, giving scholars from many countries a forum to present their work to a diverse audience, and allowing the general public to sample the rich and varied work currently being done in the academic study of comics. Learn more about ICAF at their official Web site.
Contact: Marc Singer (ICAF Executive Committee)
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