Young Comics Laureate 2025-26 Nominations are OPEN!

Our young people have developed an ambitious and innovative concept that we believe could truly transform the landscape for youth-led work across the UK: a Young Comics Laureate. This role builds upon the existing UK Comics Laureate, currently held by Bobby Joseph and supported by the Lakes International Comics Festival (LICAF). However, unlike the existing position, which is voluntary, our Youth Development Board has stressed the importance of fair and equitable pay to ensure that the role fully reflects the value of young creators’ voices.

Why a Young Comics Laureate?

While the current UK Comics Laureate plays a crucial role in advocating for comics literacy and creative expression, the position is currently held by established industry professionals. This limits the representation of young creators, whose unique perspectives and lived experiences are often overlooked in national discourse. By introducing a Young Comics Laureate, we aim to:

· Amplify the voices of young creators, ensuring their perspectives and concerns are represented in discussions around comics, literacy, and youth culture.

· Foster leadership opportunities by providing a platform for a young creator to influence national conversations around comics, education, and social change.

· Create a bridge between young and professional creators, fostering mentorship, networking, and access to industry opportunities.

· Address critical issues facing young people—including mental health, identity, and social justice—through the powerful medium of comics.

The selected individual will play a crucial role in shaping the future of comics by amplifying young people's voices and ensuring their perspectives are central to the industry. While the existing adult role provides valuable expertise and guidance, this position will complement it by bringing fresh, emerging viewpoints that reflect the evolving landscape of comics.

Young people are not only the next generation of readers but also the next generation of creators. Their engagement in the medium is essential for its continued growth and relevance. However, there is currently a lack of structured support for emerging comic creators, making it difficult for new voices to break through. This role will help address that gap by championing new talent, advocating for better opportunities, and ensuring that the industry is more inclusive and accessible.

We strongly believe that by elevating young creators and their stories, we can foster a more diverse and dynamic comics community.

Overview of the Young Comics Laureate Role

The Youth Comics Laureate will serve a 12-month tenure, working in partnership with LICAF and Comics Youth. The official announcement of the role will take place at LICAF 2025.

Why This Role Matters

Comics have always been a powerful storytelling tool, allowing creators to explore themes of mental health, identity, and social justice in ways that resonate with young people. However, despite their passion and talent, emerging creators often lack support and visibility in the industry. This role seeks to address that gap, ensuring young voices are not only heard but also actively shape the future of comics.

Application Criteria

You must be:

  • Aged 18-30 (you must be 18 years of age at the time of application and be under 31 years of age by 30th September 2026).

  • A comics creator with a passion for progressive issues

  • Able to represent young people in the comics industry

  • Someone who represents youth creativity, activism and storytelling

You will be expected to:

  • Act as a national advocate for young people in comics, using the medium to explore critical issues such as mental health, identity, and social justice.

  • Lead workshops, talks, and community events to inspire young people to share their stories and express themselves creatively through comics.

  • Provide mentorship and representation, acting as a bridge between young creators and the wider comics industry, fostering opportunities for emerging voices.

  • Develop and produce comics-based resources, which can be distributed to schools, youth organisations, and libraries to promote creative engagement.

  • Support and collaborate with the UK Comics Laureate, ensuring that young voices are integrated into wider industry conversations and initiatives.

  • Commit to 22 days of work across the 12-month period to undertake the role and fulfil the commitments outlined above.

Selection Process

The Youth Comics Laureate will be selected by Comics Youth’s community of young people and Youth Development Board, ensuring that the appointment is authentically youth-led. The selection process will be guided by Comics Youth and LICAF, providing professional oversight while centring the voices of young people in the decision-making process.

How the Young Comics Laureate Will Be Supported

The Youth Comics Laureate will receive comprehensive support from Comics Youth and LICAF, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills, mentorship, and resources to thrive in the role.

Support includes:

· Training and Supervision: The Laureate will receive structured training sessions focused on public speaking, workshop facilitation, advocacy, and professional development. Supervision will be provided throughout the year to guide and support their work.

· Mentorship: Regular one-to-one mentorship sessions with experienced comics professionals and youth leaders.

· Workshops and Event Coordination: The Laureate will have hands-on support in designing, organising, and delivering workshops and events.

· Logistics and Travel Support: Comics Youth will handle travel arrangements and accommodations for outreach activities and key events.

· Networking Opportunities: The Laureate will be introduced to industry professionals, publishers, and organisations that can help elevate their career and platform.

· Industry Exposure: The Laureate will be invited to showcase their work and advocacy at LICAF 2025 and other national industry events.

· Promotion and Publicity: LICAF will amplify the Laureate’s initiatives through their established platforms, ensuring greater visibility and impact.

· Collaboration with Professional Creators: LICAF will facilitate opportunities for the Laureate to work alongside leading comics professionals, providing an invaluable learning and networking experience.

Budget

The Young Comics Laureate will have £8,000 of unrestricted funding, that can be used to fulfil the role. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Training opportunities

  • Travel and accommodation for events

  • Mentoring opportunities

  • Sundries

  • Access costs

This budget ensures the Young Comics Laureate is fairly compensated and provided with the resources, training, and support they need to advocate for young creators and make a lasting impact.

How to Apply and Deadline

Please fill out this Google Form to submit your nomination  https://forms.gle/63hZNTMEn3tVq8Tz9 

Deadline: 13th August 2025, 5pm

Next Steps

If you are nominating someone else, Comics Youth will get in touch with the nominee to check if they would like to move onto the shortlisting process. Nominees who have not submitted themselves have the right to refuse the nomination if they do not wish to take on the post of Young Comics Laureate.

Comics Youth’s Youth Development Board will hold a meeting in mid-August to shortlist candidates, with the shortlisted candidates going out to a final public vote in late August. The final vote will be shared via email, Comics Youth and LICAF’s social media channels.

Comics Youth