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Home , Billy Bunter, Comic book, Eagle (British comics), Girl (UK comics), Judge Dredd, Viz (comics)

Anarchy Between the Lines May – September 2014 Introduction

When you think of British , do you The exhibition will touch on pioneering think of , and work from comics ‘pre-history’ including magazine? Well think again. , William Hogarth, Thomas Rowlandson, Ironman, Judge and the James Gillray, George Cruikshank, Four – the resurgence in popularity and political broadsheets and 19th century dominance on the big screen of many magazines such as Punch, The Graphic, American comic heroes are often written and Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, then and drawn – by British artists. focus on the vitality of the present-day, including both unique British titles such as UK comic writers are some of the The Beano, , and 2000 AD, best known in the world, and they have as well as the distinctly British takes on led the way in reclassifying the form as counterculture, punk and dissidence, and internationally. Film adaptations on the American genre in titles and advances in production technologies like , Batman and X-Men, have recently injected new life into the establishing the UK’s rightful place as genre. Over the same period, there has both an early innovator of comics as well been growing academic interest in the as an ongoing leader in the field. medium as a subject for critical analysis and exploration. The exhibition will be complimented by a programme of workshops, master classes Anarchy Between the Lines: the Tradition and performances allowing the public of Sedition in British Comic aims access to creators, encouraging them to encourage visitors to think differently through storyboarding interactives to about the genre and its place within the create their own work. literary and artistic canon. Hardcore comic fans and exhibition- Through the use of video demonstrations goers alike will find something to amuse, of comic production and illustration, fascinate and obsess over. Anarchy graphic projections and film screenings, between the lines opens May 2014 for a filmed interviews and online and tablet four month run to the autumn. comics, the exhibition will chart the social and cultural history of the genre from its past and on to its future.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines The partnership opportunity

The exhibition will offer the opportunity Examples of benefits, dependent upon to see a rich variety of rarely displayed level of partnership interest: material from the British Library’s vast collections, including manuscripts • Full naming rights and printed items such as periodicals, • Branding on all printed and electronic newspapers, books and pamphlets. materials • Onsite branding at the entrance to the Support of the Anarchy Between exhibition gallery, on banners visible to the Lines learning and communities Eurostar travellers leaving St Pancras programme would enable you to International station, and on banners raise awareness of your existing CSR and posters along Euston Road programmes and charitable work. • Inclusion in the exhibition book and its accompanying events programme The British Library works with people • Employee benefits to include staff of all ages and abilities and has worked development workshops related to with a wide range of organisations – exhibition themes from youth clubs and nursing homes to • VIP private event for up to 250 guests disability groups and many more. • Small bespoke VIP private exhibition The Library’s extensive resources, tours and curated ‘show-and-tells’ from education and outreach programmes the Library’s extensive collections would provide development and • Inclusion of corporate details and key engagement opportunities for your staff. messages in press release and media A number of sponsorship options are activity as part of co-developed PR available for discussion ranging from push at key points during the campaign sponsorship of the exhibition design and • 200 complimentary tickets to the build, to the on-site learning programme Library exhibition and events programmes. • Learning sessions tailored to suit your staff training and development objectives.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines The Exhibition

The gallery space itself will be fully Mirth and Mayhem utilised to immerse visitors in the furnace The comic format has repeatedly lent of creativity that are British comics. itself to exploring the boundaries of Artist, filmmaker and sculptor Dave acceptability around violence. We McKean has been invited as exhibition art will place this in its historical context director to feed into the use of the space of violent and sensationalist popular so that the experience is an immersive one literature, and look at public moral for our visitors. outrage against violent and erotic comics, the campaigns led against them, and The nuts and bolts of the creation of attempts at regulation, including the comics will be laid bare, from annotated Harmful Publications Act of 1955. scripts to sketchbooks, alongside rare comic books, digital comics and moving Clash of the classes image material. The use of old and new Portrayal of class stereotypes – upper and material will highlight the ongoing legacy lower – both seriously and humorously, of British comic books. The exhibition with examples of satirical magazines, aims is to reach a broad range of people in newspaper comic strips, underground a dynamic way, directly communicating comics and graphic novels. with the public along a variety of themes. Politics How comics have been used to expose hypocrisy and corruption among politicians, big business and the ruling classes. We examine how the format has been adopted by some political/ pressure groups as a means of communicating with their target audiences.

Sex and Sexualities Questioning the conventional – examples of historical engravings, , comic strips in newspapers and adult magazines, graphic novels, and original artwork.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines The Exhibition

Utopias and Dystopias Superhero with a thousand faces We’ll show how comics have been used Here we look at the British impact on key to explore contemporary issues by re- US superhero properties (Batman RIP, setting them in a fictional future world. Batgirl crippled, Dr Xavier from X-Men How Britain’s mid-20th century faith in walks), and how British creators took on a technological and scientific future was the American super paradigm and reflected in comics, how technology can reinterpreted it. save the world, and the variety of possible futures – good and bad. Brave New World – or Infinite Canvasses (Digital comics) Breakdowns: the Outer Reaches New experimental forms and how comics of the Mind are at the forefront in using the latest Drugs and their effects portrayed – digital technology to create and distribute through dream and nightmarish states. new material. There will be visual representations of madness and Magic journeys – the There will be a programme of events portrayal of occult systems of thought. that will include performances, film screenings, and a series of talks from Cross-pollination writers and collectors supporting the Here we will show the influence of exhibition. We will host workshops and comics on other media, whether through master classes, providing networking adaptation or inspiration, including comic opportunities for up-and-coming books adapted to the big screen, musical authors and artists. A late event which scoring of comic books, British actors will see comics activities take over the portraying American super heroes and whole of the British Library Entrance writers adapting novels to the Hall, including a public studio space for form. We will display original artwork, to work in public and interact scores, scripts, sound and film. with visitors.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines A Selection of Star Objects

Items for display may include:

• The Beano. Long running children’s • Issue 1 from one of the early comics comic (1938- ); strips focused on class printed in colour, e.g. The Coloured include ‘Lord Snooty and His Pals’, Comic (1898–1906) or in full colour ‘’ and ‘The Swots and the gravure, e.g. Weekly Blots’. (1936–) • The Scourge. Satirical magazine (1811– • One of the first underground comics, 15), containing topical satirical prints e.g. Cyclops (1970) Issue 1 from one of by George Cruikshank. the first celebrity titles, e.g. Dan Leno’s • Oz. The ‘Schoolkids’ issue no. 28 Comic Journal (1898–99) (May 1970) that was the subject of the • Mickey Mouse Annual 1931. First obscenity trial. Disney book published anywhere for • The Rainbow. Issue 1 of the first British retail (US ‘Mickey Mouse Book’ was a comic produced specifically for children promotional give-away). All drawing (1914) are by the British artist Wilfred • Issue 1 from one the contenders for first Haughton. British comic, e.g. Funny Folks (1874– ) • Action comic: scandal and censorship. or Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday (1884– ) Controversial violent comic Action • An early British , e.g. (1976–77), which newsagents refused to When the Wind Blows, by Raymond stock. Briggs (1982) • ‘Tank Girl’ by . Comic strip that originally appeared in the adult comic Deadline (1988–95). • ‘Fat Slags’ in Viz. Comic strip in an irreverent adult comic; grotesque young women obsessed with casual sex (1979– ).

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines The people we reach: Students in formal learning

Recognising that the learners of today are Onsite Digital the researchers of tomorrow, the Library’s Our onsite learning programme includes Our digital learning programme at learning programme reaches students a range of free workshops ranging from www.bl.uk/learning has won plaudits in formal learning at all ages and their those which develop creative thinking and major awards, notably for Timelines: teachers. Through our regional partners amongst primary and nursery school sources from History which won both the within the public library network we also age children through to secondary and Nominet and Museum Heritage Award in engage young adults not necessarily in Further Education groups to Higher 2010. The site contains growing resources formal education who are seeking to learn Education and adult groups. We offer a to complement the school curriculum. in more unstructured ways. lively programme of family activities and 1.3 million individuals benefited from events during school holidays. 20,000 the bl.uk/learning website this year. We focus on developing skills for learning, young learners and 3,000 teachers, adult especially those in research, critical learners and family groups take part in We are developing a new generation of thinking, visual, verbal and information our onsite learning programme each year. online teaching and learning tools for literacy and creativity. We also specialise and Language study, in offering free CPD conferences and in an exciting new project called English events for teachers. Online. It will become a the definitive online destination for the international We offer support to key subjects such as study and exploration of literature in English Literature, Literature, History, English. Art and Design, Citizenship and Religious Education and we are increasing support for science, social science and business. We promote lifelong learning through an inclusive programme geared towards learners of all ages and abilities. The people we reach: Our exhibition visitors

94% of our audience is ABC1 We have characterised the British Traditional Exhibition-goers 44% aged between 35 and 50 Library’s adult exhibition visitors into This group wants not only knowledge 30% are under 35 years of age six different groups, designed to capture from their visit but an emotional, even 27% are over 60 their essential motivation. spiritual, experience, a chance to see awe-inspiring things. They are cultural 30% are from London dabblers and visit a whole range of venues 28% from elsewhere within the UK Inspiration-Seekers across London but they return to the 24% of visitors come from overseas This group looks for inspiration wherever British Library because they are convinced 17% from the South East they go – they are willing to try new of the range of possibilities its exhibition things, take risks and be experimental. programme offers. The Library’s visitors have grown They’re creative, culturally active and by 36% over the past 10 years and highly engaged in the arts. They are most continue to grow with 49% first likely to have a vocational involvement British Library Loyal time visits during 2010. in the arts/creative sector and they are This group is highly aware of what the younger than many of the other segments. British Library offers them and needs 95% rate their experience of the 24% are under 35 years of age. little persuasion to participate in the exhibitions programme as either exhibitions programme. excellent or good. Knowledge-Seekers This group seeks intellectual stimulation Social Spacers and development for personal rather This group uses the British Library in an than academic reasons. They are lifelong informal and social way and they ‘drop in’ learners and this is what drives their on our exhibitions from time to time. The cultural engagement. They include an physical environment and the building’s above average proportion of older visitors. spaces form an important part of the visit 21% are aged 65+. experience.

Information-Driven This group is highly intellectually motivated and learning is a constant endeavour in their life. They primarily see the British Library as a research resource and visit the exhibition programme as a supplement to that.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines The Marketing and Outreach Campaign

The British Library is planning a The Library’s Learning and Outreach team comprehensive multi-channel marketing works with schools and local community campaign that is strategically constructed groups, helping to break down barriers to to make sure public awareness is engagement with our collections. continually refreshed throughout the exhibition. Workshops, events and e-learning resources will be developed in relation to • A high profile communications the exhibitions key themes. Innovation programme, targeting national press, in engineering and technology, waste arts broadcasts, print and digital management, the rise of philanthropy, media in a wide range of consumer and education, social welfare and good specialist magazines, including London- citizenship will be explored. Workshops based correspondents of foreign media and events can be tailored to fulfil your • Multi-channel direct marketing through company’s objectives. e-newsletters, event booklets and direct mail. We have approximately 200,000 The British Library is keen to work with subscribers to our e-newsletters, partners to enable them to message their and send approximately 2.5 million existing CSR and education programmes, e-communications per year utilising the Library’s resources and • Press advertising in national and local networks. newspapers • Advertising on the Underground across Our public programme receives high- the London network profile visibility on our on-site billboard • Online advertising with external sites outside St Pancras International such as Times Online along with station and on our posters and banner extensive coverage on www.bl.uk which sites along Euston Road. Our award- has over 9 million unique users per year winning programme presents two • Direct marketing to schools, Higher major temporary exhibitions each year Education and Further Education alongside promotion of the Library’s institutions across UK permanent exhibition of treasures from its collections. In 2010/2011 812,000 visitors attended exhibitions and events, and over 10 million people watched the BBC’s season of TV documentaries about maps providing valuable publicity for our Magnificent Maps exhibition.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines Partnership options for discussion

Option 1: Events programme Option 5: Exhibition Design and Build – Cost: £35,000 + VAT Headline sponsorship • Accreditation Online Cost: £100,000 + VAT • Accreditation in marketing materials • Full naming rights • Accreditation on main donor board in • Co-developed PR push at key points the Library’s Entrance Hall • Corporate message in all press and media releases Option 2: Learning programme • Accreditation and message in the Workshops Exhibition Book Cost: £25,000 + VAT • Accreditation at entrance to gallery • Accreditation in gallery and all marketing materials, print and • Accreditation in marketing materials to online schools/teachers print and online • Accreditation on main donor board in • Accreditation in all learning programme the Library’s Entrance Hall materials • 200 complimentary tickets for your own • Accreditation on main donor board in use the Library’s Entrance Hall • Inclusion of staff in tailored learning workshops Option 3: Loans to exhibition • 1x private reception in Entrance Hall Cost: £40,000 + VAT for up to 300 guests • Accreditation at entrance to gallery • 1 x Show and Tell for up to 30 and all marketing materials, print and stakeholders in the British Library online Boardroom with expert curators* • Accreditation on main donor board in • 2 days’ complimentary use of the the Library’s Entrance Hall British Library Conference Centre* • 1 x Show and Tell for 30 stakeholders in the British Library Boardroom with *excluding catering to be negotiated expert curators* according to your requirements

Option 4: Exhibition interactive displays Cost: To be agreed Working in collaboration with our exhibition team on the design and implementation of interactive display solutions we would look to agree a benefits package based on a combination of financial and in-kind support.

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines Get in touch

For further discussion, please contact:

John McPherson Head of Corporate Development British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2 DB

[email protected] T +44 (0)20 7412 7301

www.bl.uk

British Library: Anarchy Between the Lines