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Graphic Truths and Mediabox
Published 15th September 2009 at 16:09 0 Comments

Eastside is giving young Londoners the chance to create, publish and exhibit their own illustrated magazine inspired by the rising popularity of the graphic novel. Young people from across London will combine investigative journalism with their passion and skill for drawing, as they tell the contemporary stories of their peers through comic book style reportage and interviews.

During the October half term holiday, 30 young Londoners aged 16 to 19 were able to learn how to draw to the very best of their abilities and gain an insight into the penmanship and technical skills needed to create a magazine, as well as understanding the business side of the publishing industry. The challenge was not only creative but entrepreneurial as budgets were managed by the team and marketing and distribution decisions were all taken by the young people themselves. The students worked alongside an illustrator, writer and designer as well as hearing the experiences of industry professionals.

Graphic Truths was an intensive week-long project which challenges participants to develop a flair for words as they combine creative writing and stylised illustrations to tell how life really is, growing up in the capital today. The completed work will be published in a printed magazine which will be available in December and the project will culminate in an exhibition of the work created at a London gallery.

Eastside is delighted that Mediabox is supporting this programme to give young people from BME communities, under represented in magazine publishing, the opportunity to take part.