19th International Comic Artist Conference Invitation

The 19^th International Comic Artist Conference (ICC) is scheduled to be held in Anyang, China on November 4-8, 2023. This is the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that the ICC has resumed in-person gatherings. It also provides a face-to-face communication platform for comic industries from various countries and regions around the world.

Looking back over the past few years, we have experienced a convergence of the pandemic and a once-in-a-century transformation., resulting in significant changes in our world. In the current environment of opportunities and challenges coexisting, the question of how to unite and cooperate, foster mutual development, and embark on a path of shared development, mutual benefits, and win-win outcomes is a joint proposition that the comic industries from various countries and regions must confront. In today's world, international cooperation and openness for sharing are more crucial than ever before. Only through working together and collaborating can we achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes. Only by embracing the world can we embrace tomorrow. Only through progressing together hand in hand can we share the future.

Since its first summit held in Japan in 1996, the ICC has grown into the largest and most prestigious international comic summit globally, thanks to the relentless efforts of various regional ICC committees and comic artists. This remarkable development has been made possible by the active participation and selfless contributions of comic artists from different regions in each session of the ICC. Starting as a simple gathering of around a hundred Asian comic artists, the Conference has evolved over 18 sessions spanning 17 years, becoming a pinnacle event in the world of comic art.

The theme of the 19^th ICC is "Connecting the World and Facing the Future with Comics". As one of the world's most vibrant and influential cultures today, comic art goes beyond its inherent impact. Comic artists fulfill their rightful duty by actively promoting comic culture to every corner of the world, bringing more joy and enjoyment to people worldwide.

A summit forum with the theme "Opportunities and Challenges Faced by the World's Comic Culture in the Post-epidemic Era" will be held during the Conference. In the face of the influence and challenges posed by various cultures and new technologies in today's world, speakers from different regions will focus on this theme and engage in extensive and in-depth discussions. They will draw upon the development status and experiences of the comic industry in their respective regions, actively promoting innovation and sustainable development within the field of comic art.

A series of diverse and enriching activities will also be held, including exhibitions of works by comic artists from different regions, summit forums, comic artists' night, cultural visits, and more.

The 2023 China (Henan) International Animation and Culture Week is the supporting activities of the Conference, which mainly include the Forum for the Construction of Animation Power, the "Capital of Chinese Characters" Cup International Animation Competition, the "Yearning for Yin Ruins" Global Mascot Design Competition, and the International Animation Fair.

Anyang City is located at the junction of three provinces: Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei. It serves as a regional central city in the border area of these three provinces. As the location of the world cultural heritage site, the Yin ruins, and the place where the oracle bone inions, designated as UNESCO World Memory Heritage, were unearthed, this city is hailed as the "Capital of Characters". It boasts one of the world's three major ancient writing systems. Anyang is one of the centers of early Chinese civilization and a city with a rich history and cultural heritage. It is the birthplace of oracle bone inions, the origin of the Book of Changes (Zhouyi), and known as the "Ancient Capital of Seven Dynasties".

This city has abundant tourism resources, with a total of 33 national A-level tourist attractions, including Anyang Yin Ruins Scenic Area, Hongqi Canal of Linzhou City, Taihang Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Yue Fei Memorial Museum, Yili Zhouyi Museum, and Caocao Gaoling Mausoleum Museum and so on. It boasts specialty dishes like Daokou Roast Chicken, Laomiao Beef, Anyang Smoked Chicken, Egg and Pig Offal, Caoma Sesame Candy, Anyang Three Non-stick Sweets and Anyang Liaohua Cake, which will bring a unique experience and enjoyment for friends.

Dear friends, we are incredibly honored to extend an invitation to comic artists and comic institutions worldwide. We warmly and sincerely welcome comic artists and friends from around the world to join us in Anyang, China, for the 2023 ICC. Together, let's share in the festival and celebration of comic creators. We will collaborate with friends, plan for development, and talk about the future together.

We commit to making the 19^th ICC a distinctive and high-level summit for comics. We will strengthen our cooperation with ICC committees from various regions and put forth our utmost effort in organizing all aspects of the Conference to ensure its successful hosting. We are convinced that with the close cooperation and joint efforts of all parties concerned, the 19^th ICC will achieve new brilliance.

 

Welcome to China! Welcome to Anyang!

We’ll be waiting for you in Anyang. See you in Anyang!

  

Xu Tao, Chairman of the Committee of the International Comic Artist Conference

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the 19^th International Comic Artist Conference

July 20, 2023