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In the festival\u2019s first year, Camosun College provided the funding, and for the second year the program received a grant for the festival. This year, the CCAF has started an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for the festival. The goal was to raise $5,000; the campaign ran from March 2 to April 2 (the campaign was still running as of press time).<\/p>\n
Ken Steacy says comic conventions, such the San Diego ComicCon, are still important for artists, but they have changed over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are more focused on licensing now,\u201d he says. \u201cThey are shifting away from the source materials, such as the creators of comics.\u201d<\/p>\n
CCAF is different from those types of conventions and has used the same model as Toronto\u2019s TCAF and Vancouver\u2019s VanCAF, which focuses on the creator of the comics and the arts and literature, says Steacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to the students showcasing their original artwork, and the comics they have produced, CCAF will have 12 professional artists that will mentor the students,\u201d says Steacy. \u201cThey will spend the morning with the students, and in the afternoon they are here to meet with the public audience and share their experiences in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the program\u2019s alumni have been asked to join the festival as well, to share what they have been doing in the years since they graduated from the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome have gone onto higher education, and some have gone onto self-publishing, webcomics, or building their brand online, so it\u2019s going to be fabulous,\u201d says Steacy.<\/p>\n
The main objective for taking the program for Camosun student Jesse Blanchard is \u201cto hone my own skills in visual storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
CCAF will give the students the opportunity to showcase the skills they have acquired through the program. Blanchard and Kay Prosser are two students who will be graduating this year, and they have also been part of organizing the Indiegogo project, along with alumnus Karen Gillmore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were so fortunate that Karen volunteered and stepped in to organize our Indiegogo campaign,\u201d says Prosser. \u201cShe has been phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something that CCAF has changed from previous years is the keynote speech, which is a roundtable discussion this time around, with four author-illustrators. It will be held on the Friday night at the Nellie McClung branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.<\/p>\n
Approximately 300 people attended last year\u2019s festival, and Steacy is hoping for even more this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are really trying to do more of an outreach to the community, and get people all fired up about it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n