The International Comics Art Festival will run from May to December 2004, produced by Pro Helvetia (Arts Council of Switzerland), the French Institute of South Africa, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Goethe Institute Johannesburg, the Embassy of Belgium, Africa e Mediterraneo, the National Arts Council of South Africa, the University of Stellenbosch and Bitterkomix.

Under Festival Director Anton Kannemeyer, the festival is an initiative to showcase, develop and establish comic strip drawing in Southern Africa. It will.comprise exhibitions, workshops, lectures, book launches, a conference and a comic art competition.

Comics Brew will consist of many exhibitions by a variety of artists, but one main travelling exhibition forms the centre of the festival. This exhibition, The Comics Brew International Exhibition, will start in Johannesburg and travel to Maputo (Mozambique), Durban, Cape Town and Windhoek (Namibia). The exhibition will consist of seven international artists and one South African comic strip artist.

For more information or more cartoons please contact the Pro Helvetia office at 021 425 4701 or visit www.comicsbrew.com