About us

The German Comics Association was founded in Berlin in September 2013. It emerged out of an initiative created by comic artists, researchers, producers and academics, who, as part of the International Literature Festival Berlin 2013, published the Comics Manifesto. It was signed by more than 800 creative artists, journalists, and scholars, among others. Significant goals therein include the reinforcing of the comics culture in German through the creation of an institute as well as the general reinforcement of the medium itself. With the establishment of the non-profit association, an instrument was created that would be able to actualize these goals in a number of ways.

Our goals

Pursuing the goals of the association is made possible through the promotion of the arts and culture, such as through the organisation and hosting of cultural events (exhibitions, presentations, etc.), the promotion of the artistic handling of, for example, topics related to society, politics, history or culture through the comic medium, the promotion of political-aesthetic education (through publications, support and implementation of research projects, educational events, conferences).

We are committed to promoting comics as an element of cultural education in scholastic as well as civic life (through consultations, organisation and implementation of comic workshops and similar events, among others), promoting research projects in the form of scholarly work, but also through conferences or workshops.

An important goal is the establishment of a German institute for comics geared toward an international audience. As a centre of excellence, the institute is intended to support the production of comics as well as scholarly and educational activities through the medium. (The work of the institute of the Finnish Comics Society serves as a role model in this regard).

You can find the complete bylaws of the German Comics Association (in German) here.