The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

The Ken Sprague Fund, set up in memory of the late cartoonist and campaigner for human rights and staunch supporter of socialism, has announced that it is seeking entries for the 2008 International Political Cartoon Competition. This year’s competition is going under the title Earthworks 2008 and has a theme of climate change and the environment. The competition is open to cartoonists of all nations, with a first prize of £500 (around $1000 US), while an exhibition of the best submissions will be organised in London and the top ten cartoons will be displayed on the website.

(Zhang Bin’s joint first place winner from the previous competition; the Ken Sprague Fund website also has a gallery of political cartoons and illustrations which is well worth a good browse)

Last year over 200 cartoonists from 44 countries took part, with the first prize being awarded jointly to Edik Boghosian Konaraki of Iran and Zhang Bin of China; the judging panel included two of the UK’s top political cartoonists, Martin Rowson and Steve Bell. Entries for this year’s competition must reach the judges by June 1st 2008, with results announced on July 1st and as ever check the main site for full details. From the official press release:

“For all you budding cartoonists out there, now is the chance to demonstrate your talents and do your bit for the environment. We are particularly keen to encourage the work of cartoonists from Africa, Latin America and Asia. We know there are excellent cartoonists out there, as some of their work has been presented in New Internationalist.

The Ken Sprague Fund has just launched its second International Political Cartoon Competition on the subject of the environment. Titled Earthworks 2008, cartoonists from around the world are invited to submit works on the subject of our threatened environment, particularly global warming. The competition is sponsored by the Political Cartoon Gallery, New Internationalist and the Morning Star. And the Guardian cartoonist, Martin Rowson is chair of the jury which will include other leading cartoonists as well as personalities from progressive organisations.

The threat to our world by environmental pollution and global warming is undoubtedly the greatest human beings have had to face. Yet our governments and political leaders appear impotent, lacking in minimal imagination and don’t appear to have a clue about how humanity can escape this Damocles sword. Cartoonists might not be able to change the world by themselves, but their ideas, their perceptive wit and illustrative skills can alert us and motivate us better than many a politician. That is why we hope this new competition will become a useful weapon in the cause of fighting indifference and ostrich-like behaviour. Cartoonists’ images can carry a message, make a point more succinctly and effectively than long-winded speeches or meandering articles.”

(original link via Neorama)

(one of Ken Sprague’s own cartoons on the environmental theme, ‘weeping leaf’ – thanks to John Green from the Ken Sprague Fund for this)