The Goethe Institut Finland is offering an Europe-wide free and intensive online course for (emerging) BIPOC illustrators and authors in children‘s literature with the project DRIN. The workshop aims at educating and empowering BIPOC that are interested in or are already writing or illustrating stories for children as authors and illustrators of Color, with experiences of racism, migration and/or flight, are strongly underrepresented in the children’s book market.
The online course will be held by experts in children’s literature writing and illustrating: the author Chantal-Fleur Sandjon, comic artist Warda Ahmed and the illustrator Jasmina El Bouamraoui. It will include two modules; one for authors and another one for illustrators with a focus on craft, developing an own style, insights in the publishing industry and creative routines to start and finish projects. Experts in kid literature will share their lessons and help participants to create impactful narratives and illustrations. Participants will also be able to network and exchange with fellow participants to further enrich their artistic practice. Both modules take place on 8 days between 2 September and 7 November.
At the end of the course, participants will have created a short story of 2-4 pages or accompanying images on the topic “Celebrations” for children aged 4-6. The illustrated stories will be published to give the participants further exposure and make space for more diverse artists and narratives.
The workshop is open to BIPOC in Europe, people with experiences of racism, interested in writing for children. Applications with a short statement and a short story idea or examples of illustration work can be submitted until 15 August. Prior experiences in writing or illustrating children‘s literature are not a requirement. More information can be found here.
The project DRIN – Visions for Children’s Books (DIVERSITY, REPRESENTATION, INCLUSION, NORM CRITIQUE) by the Goethe Institut Finland brings together international authors, illustrators, librarians, and publishers to share knowledge and build networks of empowerment. It sets new standards for more diverse children’s literature in Europe and involves young (and multilingual) readers. DRIN addresses the issue of equal participation, highlights the gaps in representation in children’s literature, and encourages diverse authors and illustrators to shape the book market and create new materials for children and young people. The DRIN website is constantly being updated with materials, background articles, and workshop documentation in English, German, and Finnish.
