Throughout the 20th century, comics from the Arab world exclusively targeted children and were used by the ruling totalitarian authorities (military or religious) to control social morals and impose political and ideological agendas.

The Arab Revolutions of the past decade paved the way for the rise of independent collectives of artists from various Arab countries, seeking freedom of expression and creating a network of sharing experiences that has been and continues to shape the comics scene today. Introducing a variety of genres and breaking the boundaries of social and political taboos with a leading role for women, these collectives and independent artists are becoming the voice of the youth across the region.

See also the From Ink To Action exhibition at Manchester Central Library for the Festival of Libraries 2024. Three artists featured in the exhibition will be joining us across festival activities to share insight, skills and expertise through workshops including: Noha Habaieb, Tracy Chahwan and Zainab Fasiki. There will be a chance to meet the artists on the 15th June at Manchester Central Library.

Curated by Lina Ghaibeh and George Khoury.

This is a free drop-in exhibition that you do not need tickets for. Please check Manchester Central Library opening times to ensure entry on your planned visit.