On Monday we launched the new festival to the local press with the help of The Jaguator!
This sculpture based on the iconic 1984 Terminator movie character that has since spawned a whole range of classic comics from Dark Horse Comics is being loaned to the festival by the British Iron Works Centre near Oswestry.
Attending the launch were UK Comics Laureate, Charlie Adlard, former mayor Jane Mackenzie and Event Director Shane Chebsey, who were joined by the owner Clive Knowles and the sculptor of the stunning piece Luke Kite who appeared alongside his work on the front page of local newspaper the Shropshire Star on Tuesday night.
“The vision is for it to be a festival that supports all forms of comics,” Charlie said. “Comics are for everyone, aged nine to 99. The perception in the UK is that they are just for kids, but really it’s just a different form of reading. We want to change perceptions and widen their appeal.”
Festival Chair Jane Mackenzie said: “I met Charlie during my year as Mayor, and was won over by his vision to establish a comics festival in Shrewsbury. We are all proud of our town, and I wanted to help to create a really inclusive community event, held in the heart of Shrewsbury, which had something to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Our ambition is to involve schools, colleges, community groups and businesses in this creative celebration of comics and visual art.”
This Comics Salopia website has been designed by leading local digital agency, Yarrington. They’re also creating a bespoke mobile app for the festival with MyAppuccino.com, their groundbreaking app development software tool. MyAppuccino.com is the leading sponsor of the festival and is a real game changer in the world of app production, helping digital agencies to create apps faster and more cost effectively than ever before.
Festival Director Shane Chebsey said: “It was very obvious straight off the bat that we both shared similar values and aspirations and both cared deeply about Shrewsbury being represented as the hub for innovation, originality and creativity that it really is, on the national and even international stage.”
Do visit this website over the coming weeks, as the organisers release news of the many world renowned comic artists and writers heading to our county town from all over the world for June 1st & 2nd.
