The UK’s Comics Laureate, a role sponsored by Lancaster University, has launched a long-planned UK Comics Creator Survey, for everyone making comics in Britain today, aiming to ‘snapshot’ the industry – and use the results to help support it.

Built by the Audience Agency and funded by Arts Council England, the British Council and the University of Dundee, the survey is for everyone making comics in the UK.

“Over the last couple of decades, the UK comics scene has exploded into the wild, experimental, thoughtful and provocative artistic frontier that we belong to today,” says Hannah Berry, whose work as Comics Laureate is supported and co-ordinated by Lancaster University and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF).

“To find ways to ensure that this level of creativity and growth can be encouraged, supported, and sustained, we need to get an accurate breakdown of the situation,” she adds.

The Comics Laureate champions the role of comics in improving literacy in schools, libraries and education. Hannah Berry, who took over the role from Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, is an award-winning graphic novelist, comics creator, writer and illustrator.

The UK Comics Creator Survey has been designed to gather information and generate insights about comic producers across a range of creative practice, and at all levels of activity.

“If you are UK-based and make comics or cartoons for public consumption, I want to hear from you,” Hannah explains, “regardless of whether you are an internationally renowned comics legend or a newcomer working in secret on your long-form graphic novel or posting strips on Instagram. If you make comics then you are a part of the UK comics community and this survey is for you.

“The questions cover who we are and what we do (generally-speaking, I mean: it’s all anonymous); how much we make from different sources and to what extent we’re having to subsidise that; what obstacles we’re facing and what support we need to keep on making and selling comics; as well as (new for 2020!) how much of an affect the Coronavirus Pandemic has had on livelihoods and working practices”.

The results of this UK Comics Creator Survey are expected to be released in June 2020 and creators are being asked to submit responses by 18th May 2020.

The findings from this survey will be drawn up into a full report and made freely available online,

“Lancaster University is thrilled about the launch of a major study led by the present UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry," commented Dr Natasa Lackovic, of Lancaster Univerity.

“This important study is a big step forward in understanding the work by UK comics creators, their needs and how best to encourage, sustain and support their creativity and growth.

"Over the last couple of years, Lancaster University has collaborated with LICAF and UK Comics Laureates on a number of events via its graphic novels and comics hub ReOPeN. By co-sponsoring the work of UK Comics Laureate, Lancaster University shows its commitment to supporting UK arts, art industry and community development.”

“We’re delighted to continue to support the work and role of the Comic Laureate and we’ve been looking forward to seeing the launch of the UK Comics Creator Survey,” commented LICAF Festival Director Julie Tait.

“Like other major British comic event organisers, we’ve long supported special creative comic projects alongside our Festival weekend every October, as part of our commitment to creators, and to help promote the industry, through both commissioned work and a growing range of international exchanges”.