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Pop Up Projects launches ‘pioneering’ children’s books illustration course
Literature agency Pop Up Projects has launched its flagship illustration programme Pathways into Children’s Publishing.
The course has been designed to engage emerging illustrators who are underrepresented in children’s publishing across two years to develop their illustration skills, explore the world of children’s publishing, build an understanding of the commercial aspects of publishing and gain a network of contacts in publishing. It was first launched in 2019 but interrupted by the pandemic. The launch event welcomed the new cohort and celebrated the achievements of the first.
The course is “specifically for artists of colour, disabled artists, neurodivergent artists and artists with UK refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds aged 21 and above” and is designed as a “hybrid training and mentoring programme exploring the business of children’s book illustration".
The course is designed and delivered by industry insiders, from published children’s author-illustrators and art directors to university lecturers and literary agents.
The illustration course is not accredited. Organisers said: "But, like a specialised MA, it provides both talent development and publishing industry experience, something that empowers its mentees to pursue careers in this creative field.” More information can be found here.
At a launch event held at Conway Hall in London, Rachel Denwood, managing director of Simon & Schuster UK, said the programme was "the most important and groundbreaking initiative that’s happened in children’s publishing". She was joined on a panel with Jane Buckley, art director at S&S UK Children, Elorine Grant, art director of illustrated fiction at HarperCollins, and Kristina Coates, deputy art director at Ladybird Books.
Nicola Usborne, deputy m.d. at publisher Usborne described Pathways as "an innovative route into children’s publishing which makes our industry more accessible and gives talented artists a brilliant grounding in both illustration as an artform, and the commercial imperatives". She added: "It’s a great all-round introduction which prepares illustrators for everything that a career in children’s books has in store."
