Read on Twitter
I've been thinking about this thread for the last two days, because comics and history and museums are very very very dear to my heart!
I keep thinking about HOW we can make this happen https://twitter.com/reimenayee/status/1331979126253600769
I keep thinking about HOW we can make this happen https://twitter.com/reimenayee/status/1331979126253600769
We have the Smithsonian/IDW partnership to look forward to over the coming years, which I think can be fantastic in setting the stage for how these COULD happen https://graphicpolicy.com/2020/01/08/idw-and-the-smithsonian-announce-a-new-graphic-novel-program/
I'm really excited for this partnership, and cannot wait to see what's announced in terms of their graphic novels. You have so many experts at the Smithsonian, experts about SO many things. It's going to be incredible.
I do think that while we wait for Big Official Projects like this to happen, we need to set groundwork for ourselves as creators.
What do we want to do?
How do we want to do it?
What does a partnership *look* like?
What do we want to do?
How do we want to do it?
What does a partnership *look* like?
We have to ask ourselves "what do I want to do."
What interests you? Is it science, or history, or art? Is there a museum/institution near you that specializes in your area of interest?
Reach out to them. They aren't going to come to you - they don't know you exist.
What interests you? Is it science, or history, or art? Is there a museum/institution near you that specializes in your area of interest?
Reach out to them. They aren't going to come to you - they don't know you exist.
When I was planning my first research trip to Oxford for the TE Lawrence books, I reached out to the librarian who had organized the exhibit I wanted to attend. I let him know about what I was doing, and asked if he could put me in touch with the Bodleian Libraries - which he did
Through that connection, I learned HOW I could access archival materials, and was able to make a connection with the Bodleian. I've used this in my work, Dreamers of the Day.
What I wanted was access, and I got it.
What I wanted was access, and I got it.
You have to reach out to the potential interested parties. And not email the broad museum email address. You want to find the individual who can help you, and reach out to them.
Say you live in Boston, and the preeminent Sargeant scholar is at the MFA. Email them directly.
Say you live in Boston, and the preeminent Sargeant scholar is at the MFA. Email them directly.
Be sure to show them examples of your work.
Before even emailing the librarian at Magdalen College, I had a short TE Lawrence comic ready to go - it showed I was serious about my work.
Before even emailing the librarian at Magdalen College, I had a short TE Lawrence comic ready to go - it showed I was serious about my work.
Say, rather, that you want to work with a historian or scholar on a comic. The same thing holds - the onus is on YOU to get in touch with them.
But how do you find scholars to work with or follow?
Same way as artists, potential collaborators, publishers.
Twitter.
But how do you find scholars to work with or follow?
Same way as artists, potential collaborators, publishers.
Twitter.
I started attending lectures about the First World War back in April, primarily hosted by @DanHillHistory. Through this, I found researchers who were doing cool work that aligned with my own interests.
I've become friends with several, expressed interest in collaboration, and lo and behold, they are interested in collaborating as well! Nothing has been solidified YET but the mutual interest is there.
Again, we're both able to show the other what we are doing, and see how our interests align with each other's, and how a future collaboration could look.
I've attended a couple lectures by @ChrisKempshall, who has done extensive work on FWW and video games. In one of his lectures, I asked him what his ideal collaboration situation would be.
Chris said that he'd want to be asked from the beginning. Historians hold the stories...
Chris said that he'd want to be asked from the beginning. Historians hold the stories...
...and they want to share them.
And that's what we as cartoonists do. We share stories. And we can do this and build the bonds with academia and institutions.
And that's what we as cartoonists do. We share stories. And we can do this and build the bonds with academia and institutions.
Funding is, of course, a COMPLETELY different issue that I am not qualified to speak on! I've applied for funding many times! I have not got it once.
HOWEVER.
Some institutions have FELLOWSHIPS for artists - I've looked at Magdalen and All Souls Colleges in Oxford for future applications.
The @BL_Labs have annual awards for pieces created out of their digital collections! https://twitter.com/britishlibrary/status/1332259403886702592
Some institutions have FELLOWSHIPS for artists - I've looked at Magdalen and All Souls Colleges in Oxford for future applications.
The @BL_Labs have annual awards for pieces created out of their digital collections! https://twitter.com/britishlibrary/status/1332259403886702592
These opportunities are OUT THERE. Part of it is creating them for ourselves, by either Doing the Work, or reaching out to those who can helps us Do the Work.
Comics is collaborative. Let's include academics, etc in creating them.
Comics is collaborative. Let's include academics, etc in creating them.
tl;dr:
we need to just Do the Thing and not wait for others to drop the thing into our lap.
Because by DOING the thing, people know who's laps to drop opportunities into!
we need to just Do the Thing and not wait for others to drop the thing into our lap.
Because by DOING the thing, people know who's laps to drop opportunities into!
