The ‘Love Comics, Love Literacy’ events are designed to encourage teachers and librarians to use comics as a tool to enable literacy.

The events will include practical, inspirational ideas and tips on how to use comics in the classroom.

Charlie Adlard will share thoughts on why comics can make a real difference to children who do not easily connect with mainstream literature.

Working closely with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, the Comics Laureate champions the role of comics in improving literacy through a programme of educational visits, workshop events, guest appearances and conferences.

The Comics Laureate is an ambassadorial and educational role for the comic genre and aims to raise awareness of the impact comics can have in terms of increasing literacy and creativity.

The Comics Laureate appointment is made biennially to a distinguished comics creator, writer or artist in recognition of their outstanding achievement in the genre.

Charlie Adlard said: “There are comics out there that are just as relevant and important in literature as any other great contemporary novel. On the beginnings of someone’s ‘reading journey’, comics are great doorways into other forms of storytelling. Comics are such an inclusive and diverse medium, there are literally comics for all tastes and ages. It’s such an exciting time for the comic art form and I’m delighted to be helping to bring the benefits of comics to a wider audience.”

The main sponsor of the UK Comics Laureate post is Lancaster University. The post is also supported by Peters and Crescent Purchasing Consortium.

Dean of Lancaster University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Simon Guy said: “Lancaster University is delighted to support the Comics Laureate as part of our ongoing collaboration with the International Comic Art Festival. The aim of Charlie Adlard to use comics to enable literacy and widen educational participation resonates strongly with our values and mission and we will be working together to co-develop this exciting project over the next two years and beyond.”

The ‘Love Comics, Love Literacy’ event is hosted by Peters, a leading supplier of books and furniture for nurseries, schools, academies, and public libraries. 

The two events take place at Peters, 120 Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham, B5 6RJ. Primary school teachers and librarians event: 9:30am to noon and secondary school teachers and librarians event: 1:30pm to 4pm. Places can be booked at http://peters.co.uk/love-comics-love-literacy/  All event delegates will also receive a free starter pack of comics and graphic novels.