The dreary, chill and rainy weather on Sunday August 1 made for the perfect day for an indoor outing—and I personally found that nothing was better than attending the second ever Perth Comic Arts Festival (PCAF). Hosted in the expansive Spectrum Project Space at Edith Cowan University, the festival was broken down into a variety of bustling rooms for all things Perth Arts and Comics. The event itself provided local independent artists, businesses, and creators the opportunity to promote and sell their own work—as well as deliver engaging talks and workshops to and for those in the arts community and from the general public alike. The festival ran all day from 10am-4pm, with free entry for both the Market Hall and for the tailored workshops and events—making it an accessible and enjoyable day for those of all ages and backgrounds.
The first thing I noticed upon entering the festival was how warm the welcome was—along with the vibrant posters and signage around the main hall, the event organisers and volunteers were all incredibly engaged and excited to help you find your way—giving you helpful and directed advice depending on how you wanted to spend your day. There were plenty of passionate staff situated all around the venue to help you tailor your experience and guide you through the program and map. This was especially helpful because the festival boasted an extensive itinerary with a variety of concurrent workshops, talks, and activities—so while there was bound to be something for everyone, you did have to be a little choosy about what parts of the festival you wanted to attend.
The first floor of the building was dedicated to the Market Hall with three separate rooms that were decked out with stalls run by local artists and businesses, who were offering their original works—comics, prints, notebooks, cards, pins, stickers, charms and the like. This was actually my favourite part of the festival, as the bustling rooms highlighted the talents of our local visual artists, and provided a space with which they could not only sell their wares, but also promote themselves as independent artists and businesses. It was the perfect opportunity to directly support the hard work of our local artists, as well as come home with plenty of beautiful artworks and reading material for the remaining rainy days of August.
The remaining activities and talks were all located in the upstairs suites, covering topics that ranged from general exhibitions and artist support workshops, to those that delved further into the academia surrounding visual arts and creative industries in Perth and worldwide. There were a range of discussions, panels, and presentations conducted by groups of talented and well-renowned artists from Perth and beyond, such as Campbell White, Lee Lai, and Liz McFarlane. These talks provided a great resource for artists hoping to develop on and build their own careers in the industry—whether they be looking to learn to develop their own comics, gain insight into the future of visual arts and comics in Perth, or simply listen to the experiences and lessons these industry artists have learnt in their time working professionally.
There were also plenty of discussions that would appeal to those outside of the industry—for example, those who find more interest in reading comics and appreciating the artform. These panels facilitated some interesting and diverse discussions around culture, identity, and art in relation to the creative sectors. I particularly enjoyed Lee Lai’s digital discussion of her debut graphic novel Stone Fruit, which follows the story of a queer couple as they navigate their relationship alongside growing familial tensions. Whether you were someone who was looking for industry advice, or simply interested in comics as a whole, the PCAF organisers did an amazing job in coordinating an engaging and thought-provoking programme.
For younger festival-goers (though not exclusive to younger attendees), the comics lab facilitated some hands-on workshops that let you have a go at actually designing and creating characters and comics. These sessions were again facilitated by some well-renowned industry comics makers, and while I unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to attend any of these sessions myself, the reception and demand for them seemed to have been quite significant. It allowed for an engaging morning or afternoon activity for people of all ages, and all skillsets.
I found that the Perth Comic Arts Festival was highly successful both in the high-quality friendly and creative experience it provided, as well as in practical measures of foot traffic. Most of the free workshops and talks had been booked out online prior to the event, and the Market Hall was always filled with a stream of people making their way through the tables to look at and buy from comic artists. This is particularly exciting as was only the second iteration of the festival—and its success can be seen as an indicator of the possibilities to come in future years. It’s an exciting time to be in visual arts and comic making in Perth right now. A driven and diverse community has grown in spite of the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the industry, and is being increasingly supported by local initiatives and events.
The Perth Comics Art Festival was one such event, and provided a wonderfully vibrant, creative, and engaging day for community engagement. The quality that the festival delivered in terms of its thought-provoking talks, and hands-on activities made for a spectacular event—meaning that next year’s event is sure to be one to keep an eye on.