Filed under: Festival Spotlight 2017, Programme 2017, Thought Bubble 2017 | Tags: comic con, comic festival, Comics, Leeds comic con, Leeds comic festival
Hello Bubblers!
We’re less than 2 weeks away from the start of 2017’s Thought Bubble, and our return to Leeds City Centre, and as this year’s Bubble approaches, we’re looking at some selected highlights from this year’s programme here on the blog – helping you get the most out of the festival week!
Taking place from 18th to 24th September at venues across Leeds (and beyond), 2017’s Thought Bubble will be a celebration of all comics has to offer – comprising a huge range of events for fans of all ages, and will include free art & writing based workshops for young people & adults, talks & masterclasses lead by industry professionals, free exhibitions, & our massive two-day comic convention on 23rd and 24th September in the heart of Leeds City Centre!
The full festival programme can be found on this page, with full information on events available by clicking their titles, and a map of venues for this year’s festival can be found here. We’ve also got a digital version of this year’s festival guide up online here, with provisional convention floor plans available here, and free print copies of all of these will be available at our events for attendees.
Don’t forget to check out all the guests and exhibitors who’ll be joining us for this year’s convention, and make sure to get your convention tickets (although more will be available on the door)!
We’ve also updated our visitor’s guide for the festival, including travel advice for getting to/around Leeds, which can be found here.
Continuing our festival highlights, we’re looking at the live events taking place during the festival week, and in the festival fringe before and after this year’s Thought Bubble!
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Community Comics Power Workshop for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Weds 13 Sept, One Community Centre, Cromwell St, Leeds, LS9 7SG, 10:00-15:00, 18+, Free
Community Comics Power UK facilitate workshops to teach groups how to use comic strips to tell their stories, often for the first time. The process is very cathartic and enables the participant, who may have never shared their experience before, to become the star of their own story. The comics created at these workshops are then exhibited in public spaces to promote discussion, debate and social change. The original idea was developed by Sharad Sharma who set up World Comics India. Community Comics Power UK are the sister organisation. They use the medium of the comic strip as a powerful way of getting a message across which is recognised the world over.
This is a free two-day workshop for asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants to make a comic on the theme of immigration and religious tolerance. All materials, lunch and £5 travel costs will be provided for attendees each day. Attendees will be given free entry to all events during the Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival. The comics made will be displayed at Leeds City Museum on 23rd and 24th September during the festival.
To book a place please contact info@leedsrefugeeforum.org.uk. Places will be offered on a first come-first served basis.
Create a Superhero at the Merrion Centre
Sat 16 Sept, Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG, 11:00-16:00, All Ages, Free
Dress up and join in with Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival at the Merrion Centre! Come dressed as your favourite superhero and have a go at drawing your own comic! Create a new character, draw them in an awesome costume and tell us all about their super powers! We can’t wait to see how your superhero will save the world on this exciting day of comic-themed fun!
Doctor Simpo Presents…1 Day Luxury Spa Treatment Styled Around Creating Your Very Own Character, Story And World
Sat 16 Sept, City Library, 9 Aldermanbury, Centenary Square, Bradford BD1 1SD, 11:00-16:30, All Ages, Free
…combinations of words and pictures in a sequential visual format are otherwise known as a Comic Book. This one-day course combines different techniques, devices and tools used throughout the world of professional Comic Book artists and writers.
At the end of the session you will have been guided through a well-practiced sequence of events which will enable you, as a young creative, to produce your very own page of finished Comic Book styled artwork.
Plus a FREE comic!
Leeds Art University Presents…Best of British Poster Show Exhibition Launch Party
Mon 18th Sept, Travelling Man, 32 Central Road, Leeds, LS1 6DE, 18:00-19:00, All Ages, Free
Exhibition of fan art posters hung at Travelling Man comic shop, in the city centre. The posters have been made by the college’s third year Illustration students in response to their favourite British TV, comics and film. The posters will be on display for the duration of the festival and available to buy in store.
Presented in association with Travelling Man
The Rainbow Age: LGBTQIA* Comic-book Club
Tues 19 Sept, The Portal at Leeds Central Library, 17:00-19:00, 16+, Free
Join us for a celebration of LGBTQIA* comics & creators with an informal book club evening!
Bring along your favourite LGBTQIA* comics, or come and discover something new from our collection, kindly supplied by Travelling Man. Meet like-minded fans and make new friends over comics.
After our previous Rainbow Age events, Travelling Man donated all the books to Leeds Libraries to create a completely unique collection for the whole of Leeds to enjoy; the first of its kind in the country. This year, they’ll be adding to the collection with some incredible new LGBTQIA* comics from 2017. All are welcome, so come along for a relaxed atmosphere and to read some amazing, life-changing comics!
Presented in association with Travelling Man.
Community Comics Power Workshop for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Weds 20th Sept, One Community Centre, Cromwell St, Leeds, LS9 7SG, 10:00-15:00, 18+, Free
Community Comics Power UK facilitate workshops to teach groups how to use comic strips to tell their stories, often for the first time. The process is very cathartic and enables the participant, who may have never shared their experience before, to become the star of their own story. The comics created at these workshops are then exhibited in public spaces to promote discussion, debate and social change. The original idea was developed by Sharad Sharma who set up World Comics India. Community Comics Power UK are the sister organisation. They use the medium of the comic strip as a powerful way of getting a message across which is recognised the world over.
This is a free two-day workshop for asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants to make a comic on the theme of immigration and religious tolerance. All materials, lunch and £5 travel costs will be provided for attendees each day. Attendees will be given free entry to all events during the Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival. The comics made will be displayed at Leeds City Museum on 23rd and 24th September during the festival.
To book a place please contact info@leedsrefugeeforum.org.uk
Places will be offered on a first come-first served basis.
A Day In The Life – Comics as Life Writing
Weds 20 Sept, Room 2 at The Carriageworks Theatre, The Electric Press, 3 Millennium Square, Leeds, LS2 3AD, 18:00-20:30, Ages 14+, Free
A workshop with comics artist and writer Una, author of On Sanity: One Day In Two Lives and Becoming/Unbecoming.
Draw out a sequential story from your own life in this friendly workshop, suitable for all abilities. With a focus on mental well-being this session aims to help you invent a simple character and let it talk through one day in your life. What makes you feel good (or at least a little better)? Going for a walk? Taking a long bath? Playing your favourite music?
Basic drawing materials provided. In partnership with Arts and Minds Leeds. This event is aimed at adults and young adults aged 14+.
To book a place, please click here.
In partnership with Arts and Minds Leeds.
Comics Forum Academic Conference Day 1
Thur 21 Sept, 09:00-16:45, recommended for 16+ (some talks unsuitable for under 18s)
The ninth annual Comics Forum academic conference will feature a fantastic lineup of top academics and other great speakers, talking about the ways space works in comics, and how comics can make spaces in culture. Check out comicsforum.org/comics-forum-2017 for the details as they’re announced!
Tickets are priced as follows:
1 day (21st or 22nd September): £12
2 days (21st & 22nd September): £24
4 days (2 day Comics Forum pass + 2 day Thought Bubble pass): £48 (this is a saving of £5 on the cost of Thought Bubble tickets if bought separately)
Please visit comicsforum.org for full details and to book tickets.
Travelling Man and Leeds University Comic Book Society Present…Pints and Pencils
Thur 21 Sept, The Social, 21 Merrion Street, Leeds, LS2 8JG, 19:30-late, 18+ (please bring a valid form of photo ID), Free
Proudly presented by the team at Travelling Man and the Leeds University Comic Book Society, Pints and Pencils is the social drawing competition featuring plenty of prizes, laughs and beverages.
Artistic ability is not required to win top prizes and drawing equipment will be provided!
Comics Forum Academic Conference Day 2
Fri 22 Sept, 09:00-16:45, recommended for 16+ (some talks unsuitable for under 18s)
The ninth annual Comics Forum academic conference will feature a fantastic lineup of top academics and other great speakers, talking about the ways space works in comics, and how comics can make spaces in culture. Check out comicsforum.org/comics-forum-2017 for the details as they’re announced!
Tickets are priced as follows:
1 day (21st or 22nd September): £12
2 days (21st & 22nd September): £24
4 days (2 day Comics Forum pass + 2 day Thought Bubble pass): £48 (this is a saving of £5 on the cost of Thought Bubble tickets if bought separately)
Please visit comicsforum.org for full details and to book tickets.
Thought Bubble Book Crossing 2017
Fri 22 Sept, Various libraries across Yorkshire (please see below for details), from 10:00, All Ages, Free
Thought Bubble is once again teaming up with Diamond Comics, Travelling Man, and Viz Media to give away free all-ages graphic novels and comics to everyone! Just pop into one on the libraries listed below on Friday 4th November, and help us to achieve our aim to get everyone reading more!
Libraries taking part are: Armley, Baildon, Bingley, Burley, City Bradford, Clayton, Eccleshill, Ilkley, Keighley, Laisterdyke, Leeds Central, Manningham, Moor Allerton, Pudsey, Shipley, Wibsey and Wyke.
Just pop along to any of the libraries participating, and pick-up some great comics for free, to take home and read, or give to a friend!
Presented in association with Diamond Comics and Travelling Man.
Design Your Own… with Gary Erskine
Fri 22 Sept, Moor Allerton Library, 15:30-16:30, Drop-in after school workshop – everyone welcome, Free
Join Marvel and DC Comics artist Gary Erskine for a Design Your Own… workshop.
The single session will give you the tips and creative building blocks needed to design your own character during the class and beyond! Is it going to be a hero or villain? Monster or alien? Or the Next Big Comic Movie character? Discover what your imagination can create with just a few short lessons and only a pen and paper. Who knows where it will lead?
Work with friends to create your own stories and characters and be part of a larger world!
Thought Bubble Pre-Convention Reception at Fire Lake Grill House and Cocktail Bar, Radisson Blu Leeds
Fri 22 Sept, Radisson Blu, 1 The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8TL, 19:00 until late, Free, 18+, Fire Lake Grill House will be serving food from 18:00-22:00
A chance for guests, exhibitors and attendees to relax and chat in the lovely surroundings of the Radisson Blu before our huge comic convention starts on Saturday!
Gosh! Comics Presents… Process with Joëlle Jones
Tuesday 26th Sept, Gosh! Comics, Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0DR, 19:30-21:00, All ages, Free
Hosted by Ramsey Hassan, learn about Joëlle Jones’ comics-making process in this panel discussion and audience Q+A
Light Night & Thought Bubble Present….The Lost Forest of Leeds
Thurs 5th Oct & Fri 6th Oct, Leeds Town Hall Crypts, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AD, 18:00-23:00, All ages, Free
A portal to a lost and forgotten world has opened up, right here in Leeds! As its strange secrets come to life around you, use a special flashlight and explorer’s map to help local artist Jack Fallows solve the cryptic messages of the mysterious forest before the portal closes up again!
Jack has worked with young people across Leeds to create characters and stories set against the backdrop of this hidden world.
For more information, please click here.
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We’ll be back tomorrow with another festival spotlight, but in the meantime, don’t forget that you can get live updates on all the current Thought Bubble action, please follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook!
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Thought Bubble 2018 runs 17th - 23rd September! 
[…] of the amazing activities organised outwith the weekend’s convention included the Rainbow Age LGBTQIA+ Comic Book Club, […]
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