As the global pandemic recedes, many international exhibitions have returned to physical modes, and tradeshows have revived in person. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) connects domestic graphic publishing houses to global markets, and highlights creators shine in international competitions. Besides establishing Taiwan Pavilion and online copyrights platforms, TAICCA also supports publishing houses and creators to key markets and exhibitions which includes Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Angoulême in France, and Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy for post-pandemic business opportunities.
The Key Visual of Taiwan Pavilion at Angoulême International Comics Festival 49TH EDITION
The Key Visual of Taiwan Pavilion at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 59TH EDITION
At the press conference on March 9th, TAICCA Vice President Alice Chang pointed out that the graphic publishing industry especially valued in-person engagement. From pavilion design to creator meetups, these arrangements could effectively appeal to buyers. Before exhibitions, TAICCA invited well-experienced professionals in right licensing to review market experiences to creators, and supported business developments during the festivals. Even under the pandemic, said Ministry of Culture Humanities & Publications Director Ying-fang Chen, MOC and TAICCA continue to promote the graphic publishing industry from Taiwan to the world in various programs. As online models cannot completely replace in-person engagements, creators and publishers will bring Taiwan’s soft power to the world. Locus Publishing Chairman Rex How coordinates the programs of Taiwan Pavilion at Angoulême festival this year. The festival defined “Be Brave” as the theme, he said, to encourage everyone to live and to keep creating. Taipei Book Fair Foundation Director Hsiu Yin Wang coordinates the Taiwan Pavilion in Bologna. She hoped all the highlighted illustrators, publishing houses, and titles will expand Taiwan’s international visibility and market.
TAICCA Vice President Alice Chang
Ministry of Culture Humanities & Publications Director Ying-fang Chen
For the Angoulême International Comics Festival, TAICCA and the curatorial team assist the artists to actively participate in the event, organize showcases for European buyers, and take part in ANGOULEME International Rights Market. TAICCA also displays a showreel of this year’s selected comic artist, IP adaptation showreel, a multilingual “TAIWAN COMIC CITY”, and the first English-French online Taiwan Pavilion for this marketplace.
Locus Publishing Chairman Rex How
Locus Publishing Managing Editor Yi-Chun Lin
The theme of Taiwan Pavilion in 2022 Angoulême is Taiwan Comics: Be Brave!. The key visual is created by 2020 Golden Comic Award-Grand Prize winner NOBI Chang. Inspired by various aspects of bravery, it represents how comic artists in Taiwan keep thriving under the pandemic. Taiwan Pavilion will present over 100 titles with Taiwanese characters and international potentials,such as, Somnolences (available in French), White Crow Award winnerSon of Formosa (Japanese, French, and Arabic rights are sold), CliniClowns: Last Goodbye (The 15th Japan International MANGA Silver Award Winner ), and Crouching Lion in a Bookstore (2021 Golden Comic Awards Grand Prize).
Taipei Book Fair Foundation Director Hsiu Yin Wang
Taiwan Pavilion at Bologna Curator Page Tsou
For Bologna, TAICCA invites professionals to share market experiences to illustrators and rights agents, and arranges creator meetups on site. The pitch sessions aim to introduce Books From Taiwan program selections, and also to engage with rights holders and licensees from Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, Lithuania, and Brazil. These efforts hope to open more European doors for Taiwanese illustrators.
Taiwan Pavilion at Bologna is curated by former SM International Illustration Award winner Page Tsou. He features winner’s works of Lian-An Lin, Animo Chen, and Pei-Hsin Cho. Under the theme of Taiwan Pavilion at Bologna Children's Book Fair: Beyond Books, Stories Ahead, the pavilion portrays a market with 225 titles from 35 publishing houses. The online pavilion also offers real-time services for rights agents. This year’s featured artists include Animo Chen, who has won the BolognaRagazzi Award for two consecutive years. The 2021 SM International Illustration Award winner Pei-Hsin Cho. Yi-Wen Huang, Hsiao-Chi Chang, and Yi-Chin Chen were selected into the Bologna exhibition in 2021, and Tzu-Chun Chang, who was selected into Il Bambino Spettatore in 2021.
Creators Show their Creativity through Live Drawing Session
TAICCA has designed a variety of programs for graphic publishing in rights promotion and marketing, including Books From Taiwan, IP development, and essential marketplace plans. As Taiwanese creators have exemplified freedom and diversity in works, TAICCA aspires to increase their market shares globally, and makes their international potentials grow.
Angoulême International Comics Festival 49TH EDITION - 17 > 20 MARCH 2022：
2022 Taiwan Pavilion Featured Artists:
2021 Taiwan Golden Comic Awards, Grand Prize: Xiao Dao
2020 Taiwan Golden Comic Awards, Grand Prize: NOBI CHANG
Selected Artists: Evergreen YEH, Pam Pam LIU
Taiwanese artists-in-residency program at La Maison des Auteurs of La Cite Internationale de la Bande Dessinee et de L’image in Angouleme：Adoor YEH, Doz LIN
2021-2022 Resident Artist at Maison de la BD：CHEN Pei-Hsiu, Ray HE
Taiwanese Artist and Work made into Angoulême International Comics Festival Official Competitions：
THE FIBD CHALLENGE 2022: Eli Lin
Bande Dessinée alternative 2022: Bo_ing Comix Special Edition
Bologna Children’s Book Fair 59th edition 21-24 March 2022 | Bologna - Italy
2022 Taiwan Pavilion Featured Illustrators:
Animo Chen、Pei-Hsin Cho、Hsiao-Chi Chang、Yi-Wen Huang、Yi-Chin Chen、Tzu-Chun Chang
#FIBD22 Taiwan online Pavilion: https://angouleme.taiwancomics.taicca.tw/
#BCBF22 Taiwan online Pavilion: https://taiwan-bcbf.taicca.tw/2022/
Books From Taiwan: https://booksfromtaiwan.tw/
TAIWAN COMIC CITY: https://taiwan-comic-city.taicca.tw/