Comix Telford

FOR THE first time since it started five years ago, Hi8us will deliver its internationally successful and innovative Comic Art talent scheme in Telford.

Comix Telford is a talent finding competition for budding young comic artists, in fact it will prioritise 16 to 19 year olds living or studying in Telford. The aim is to discover and nurture talented artists and support them to get into the comics industry with the help of world-class comic professionals such as Hunt Emerson (The Beano) and John McCrea (The Hulk) who commented: "I think this is a wonderful opportunity. When I was breaking into the industry I would have loved the chance to be on this project".

Hi8us Midlands is part of an established charity with a long history of utilising the skills of experts to guide aspiring artists and media producers, with professional results. "We run a range of arts and media projects in a range of communities up and down the country; we come across a great deal of untapped talent and this scheme is just one way of meeting the needs of the gifted individuals we know are out there." Said Kulwant Dhaliwal, Hi8us's Midlands Director.

The scheme is entirely free thanks to Telford & Wrekin's Find Your Talent programme. Julie Jones, its Creative Arts Manager said "Our aim is to support and nurture talented young people, we know they're out there!"

The only thing applicants need to do to be considered is send in copies of their most recent comic strips and complete a short application form. The deadline for postal submissions is Friday 17th July 2009, while for email submissions it is Sunday 19th.
There will be an informal recruitment session taking place at the Telford College of Arts and Technology from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on Wednesday 8th July for those who want to know more.

From July through to October, 20 finalists will get the opportunity to train with the aforementioned John McCrea and Hunt Emerson, plus Laura Howell, Andi Watson and Asia Alfasi. The scheme will culminate in the trainees having their first comic book published and launched at the British International Comics Show in Birmingham this October.

Applicants need to submit examples of their best and most recent work. Never send in original art, but ensure you send in good photocopies, and Hi8us is looking for 2-4 pages of original comic pages featuring continuity, and preferably without lettering.

Submission guidelines can be downloaded from www.hi8us.co.uk. To book a place at the recruitment session and/or get an application pack, contact: Kulwant Dhaliwal on 0121 753 7700 or kulwant@hi8us.co.uk