Illustrators join forces to retain ties after UK’s EU exit

A pan-European network of children’s illustrators and comic creators has been launched to ensure continental ties and collaboration remains after Brexit.

Not-for-profit social enterprise Pop Up Projects seeks to enable illustrators and artists to disseminate information, share successful creative and educational advice and facilitate opportunities to work together across cultural and linguistic barriers.

According to Dylan Calder, director of Pop Up Projects, “it has never been more important for arts organisations to connect with like-minded European organisations and artists”. He added: “Once the UK leaves the EU, we will lose access to funding for arts, culture, heritage and regeneration. We need to a continent-wide market for collaboration and exchange, and we must ensure participants in the arts have continued opportunities to speak to, hear from and learn about other cultures and communities.”

The enterprise will invite educators and literature professionals to the Pop Up Lab conference in Peterborough next month to contribute to the initiative.

Speakers include staff from NoBrow, House of Illustration and Literature Wales, along with Art Basics for Children (Belgium) and Tantagora (Spain).