Comics opportunity newsletter turns one year old this month!
This little letter continues to be one of the most delightful and rewarding parts of my career. Since starting comics ops, I’ve met so many readers and artists who have found opportunities through it.
Thank you all for your support and appreciation. It means the world to me and my tiny cartoonist heart.
All links to an opportunity are in its header. To submit an available opportunity fill out this form.
I am currently preparing my pre-order campaign and book tour for my debut graphic novel. I will post dates, and schedule along with the September newsletter. In the meantime, please consider pre-ordering Song for Medusa here.
If you are a bookseller, school, or university and want me to stop in your city as part of my Song for Medusa book your, please email me at grace.desmarais(at)yahoo.com or DM me on insta.
Heading includes fest name/link, application deadline, and location.
Artist & Fleas – Temporary Retail Front – Ongoing Until Closed – NY, NY/Brooklyn, NY
Seeking artists, crafters, and designers to sell physical products with a temporary booth in Williamsburg and Chelsea.
SUCA A3U – Festival – Aug 30 – Manituana, Italy
Seeking artists for their Oct 17-18 fantasy arts festival in Manituana, Italy.
DC Zine Fest – Zine Festival – Aug 13 – Washington, DC
Seeking zinesters, cartoonists, and artists for their Nov 14 festival.
Note from Grace: This is one of my favorite festivals. It’s perfect for new to comics/zines with a fabulous community focused on disabled and queer folks. They also offer financial support to applicants.
Pittsburgh Zine Fair – Festival – Aug 15 – Pittsburgh, PA
Seeking zinesters and cartoonists for their Oct 18 festival.
Savage Zine Fest – Festival – Aug 15 – Savannah, GA
Seeking zinesters and cartoonists for their Oct 17 festival.
Queer Zest Zine Fest – Aug 7 – Virtual
QUEER APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking artists for their virtual festival. Workshop applicants also encouraged.
Society of Illustrators Holiday Market – Aug 3 – NY, NY
Seeking crafters, makers, and fiber artists for their Dec 5 arts and crafts fair.
Heading includes submission name/link, compensation, and deadline.
Inservice Comics – Paid – Aug 31
CANADIAN APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking graphic novel submissions for their micro-press publication.
Salem Cat Museum – Gallery Show/Commission – Oct 30
Seeking cat themed art to display at their Cat Museum.
Spiritual Noir – Gallery Show/Commission – Sept 2
Seeking artists for their Tarot based gallery show in Paris, France.
Seeking previously rejected work for publication highlighting rejected works.
Note from Grace: This is one of the cooler opportunities on this newsletter. Run by incredible writers. Explicitly open to comics submissions.
Diskette Press – Paid – Ongoing
QUEER APPLICANTS ONLY Risograph publication seeking mini comics and zines for their 2027 calendar.
Active Publishing – Paid – Ongoing
TRANS APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking zines, chapbooks, and mini comics for publication.
Comics Forum – Unpaid – Aug 31
Seeking academic papers on comics for presentation and/or lecture for Thought Bubble Comics Festival Summit on Nov 14-15
The Camel – Gallery Show – Aug 15
RICHMOND, VA LOCALS ONLY Call for artists for a group show under the theme CREATURES OF THE NIGHT.
Email thecamelartva@gmail.com with submission.
Edward Gorey House – Submission – Dec 1
Seeking illustrated envelopes from all age artists under the theme ZOO.
Anya and Andrew Shiva – Gallery/Commission – Jan 27
Seeking interdisciplinary artists for gallery show with focus on social justice, esp. criminal justice reform.
Faber Books – Paid/Publication – Nov 30
Seeking short comics for their short story prize.
Seeking poster artists for their Oct festival.
Nevermore Gallery – Gallery Show – Aug 28
Seeking Horror/Dark art submissions under the theme ABYSS.
Looking Deeper Zine – Author Copy – Aug 23
DISABLED APPLCIANTS ONLY Seeking Horror comics/writing/art for their zine.
Purgatory – Event Hosting – Open until closed
Seeking artist events, tattoo pop ups, and more to host in their bar.
Note from Grace: One of the best queer punk venues in Bushwick. I also know the event booker and they are excited by unique events with queer hosts.
Build Coffee & Books – Consignment – Rolling
Seeking mini-comics and zines for consignment at their Chicago, IL store.
Seeking artists to design limited edition bags for their boutique illustration lead brand.
Inservice Comics – Paid – Aug 31
Seeking indie cartoonists to publish new comics.
Glasgow Zine Library – Paid – Aug 14
DISABLED SCOTTISH APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking disabled zinesters to create an A4 zine, with the opportunity to receive a stipend, printing coverage, and access to the Glasgow Zine Library.
Skirt Chasers Magazine – Artist Copy – Ongoing
NEW YORKER APPLICANTS PRIORITIZED LESIBIAN/QUEER APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking writing, literary criticism, film criticism, music reporting, comics based around the New York City lesbian scene for their monthly magazine.
The Living Gallery – Gallery Display – Aug 1
BIPOC APPLICANTS ONLY Seeking mixed media and/or fiber artists for gallery show.
Seeking artists and designers to collaborate with a book subscription box for fantasy and romance readers.
Brown Paper Fox – Paid – Ongoing Until Closed
Seeking picture books for publication with their small imprint.
Desert Island Press – Consignment Opportunity – Open Until Closed
Seeking comics and zines for their store for wholesale and consignment.
NYC Gutter Show – Unpaid – Ongoing
Seeking cartoonists and/or animators for live readings and screenings of their comics.
Note from Grace: This is an amazing event which I have participated in. The format is especially suited to humor cartoonists and for those who are interested in the combination of performance and comics.
Pages and Panels – Press – Ongoing
Seeking writers and journalists to cover comics for this online publication. Email contact@pages-and-panels.com or for more information see this link.
Seeking comics, journalists, reviewers, and artists for their comics lit. magazine
Heading includes opportunity name, deadline, location, and type of compensation.
Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship – Sept 10 – Cambridge, MA – Fellowship
Seeking interdisciplinary artists with a focus on social, scientific, and policy issues beyond the academic space.
Kush Komikss – Aug 15 – Riga, Latvia – Residency, Partial Funding
BALTIC ARTISTS ONLY Seeking cartoonists and illustrators for a partially funded festival.
BCAF Lightning Grants – Rolling -- $250 Micro Grant
MASSACHUSETS ARTISTS ENCOURAGE Seeking cartoonists in need of financial support for printing/producing work.
WNY Book Arts Center – Rolling – Buffalo, NY – Studio Space
Month long studio space residency for printmakers.
Header includes event name and location.
Prairie Comics Fest – Aug 6 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Fundraising party for the PCF community.
Cartoonist Clubhouse – Aug 3 – 7 – Portland, ME
Comics making summer camp for kiddos ages 8 – 12, hosted by artist Isabella Rotman.
Graphic Lit Book Club – Brooklyn, New York
Located at Taylor & Co Books, cartoonist Diana Schoenbrun hosts the Graphic Lit Book Club once a month. To participate sign up for the mailing list.
Note from Grace: I will be attending this event in Prospect Park, from 7-8 PM.
NYC Cartoonist Meet Up – Monthly – Brooklyn, NY
$10 at the door. Community meet-up.
Upcoming Dates: Aug 24., Sept 21
Note from Grace: I co-founded this event, and it is a great way for young artists in New York City to get to know one another.
Cartoonist Club House – Aug 3 – 7 – Portland, ME
Comics camp for ages 8 – 13 led by previously featured artist Isabella Rotman.
Astoria Zine Club – Ongoing Events
Community run events for the Queens zine community.
BCAF – Ongoing Programing – Greater Boston Area
Boston Comics Arts Foundation has fabulous ongoing programing in the greater Boston area.
Kids Comics Unite — How to launch your graphic novel lecture.
Diskette Press — Article on the economy of small press.
Publishers Weekly – Business Journalist and Editor
Zach Clemente is a brilliant comics arts advocate and small press publisher of Bulgilhan Press. Operating and funding Bulgilhan independently, Zach has created a press that features lush, beautifully crafted, and tactilely designed comics.
As part of Zach’s commitment to the comics community he is also the President of the board of directors of Boston Comic Arts Foundation (BCAF). BCAF features prominently in this newsletter and offers so many artists of the Greater Boston area an opportunity to thrive.
Zach is also an alum of Hampshire College, which was my alma mater as well.
Consider following Bulgilhan and supporting them by buying their books!
As usual, here are some additional resources available for your own personal research.
I’ve come across these sources on my own time, of which have sponsored me for their shout out.
RatHaus Printing, beautiful and affordable risograph printing. Use code BOOKFAIR for 20% off
Pform Arts, list of fully funded/high value grants/residencies
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