East London Comic & Arts Festival

London, May 2012 – Nobrow Press proudly announces the first East London Comics & Arts Festival (ELCAF) programme of exhibitors, artists, talks, workshops and gigs showcasing the best of indie comics and graphic art.

At ELCAF, art lovers can discover collectible work by a huge range of artistic talent: from celebrated international artists representing Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro, to London and UK based graphic artists whose illustrations appear daily in our newspapers, magazines, book covers and websites.

A visit to ELCAF is a fantastic way to tap into the UK’s indie comics scene, fast emerging from the underground and becoming the next big art trend. Shopping for comics is a fun way to collect quality work from cutting-edge artists with all the variety, cool factor and DIY ethos of street art – without breaking the bank.

The best comic art is about good storytelling for every reader, not just insiders. At ELCAF, visitors will find a stylish, friendly and welcoming crowd; even visitors new to comics can be sure that ELCAF curators have hand-selected books, prints, posters and collectible magazines they’ll want to take away and treasure.

The festival has been designed with visitors in mind and promises to be good fun for everyone, from little folks to grown-ups and everyone in between! There will be hands-on illustration workshops for kids from Anorak Magazine, talks from remarkable comics creators like Simone Lia and BLEXBOLEX throughout the day, live drawing events featuring Luke Pearson and McBess and, topping it off in the evening, a ticketed gig featuring three of Shoreditch’s hottest bands to help visitors dance the night away in Village Underground’s iconic arches.

A perfect extra stop for culture vultures visiting the fine art and design degree shows on Brick Lane, ELCAF is a great chance to get to know a new art scene – and take home a little part of it.

Sam Arthur, Co-Founder of Nobrow Press and ELCAF, says “comics artists want to tell beautiful, passionate, important stories that make other people cry, laugh and fall in love. ELCAF will spread the word that comics are a great way to support and collect inspired creative work from artists and illustrators whose pictures many people probably enjoy every day in the media without realising it.”

Alex Spiro, Co-Founder of Nobrow Press and ELCAF, says “We were inspired to start ELCAF because we wanted more people in the UK to recognise what great talent we have here. The US and European comics scenes are firmly entrenched in their respective cultures (in France it is dubbed the 9th Art) and it’s time for us to do a bit of catching up. The craftsmanship and artistry in the best graphic novels are on a par with the greatest art in museums and galleries worldwide – ELCAF will help these brilliant creators reach the audiences they deserve.”