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Cartoon Crossroads Columbus
September 27, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - October 1, 2023 @ 4:00 pm
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus will occur from September 27th to October 1st at multiple venues throughout the city. Experience this incredible festival celebrating comics, art, and animation, featuring an impressive roster of world-class guests.
About Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC)
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) is an annual four-day event dedicated to celebrating the art of cartoons and fostering connections among individuals who share a deep passion for this medium. The event was founded by Lucy Shelton Caswell, the visionary behind the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
Before CXC, Caswell had successfully organized a triennial Cartoon Art Festival in Columbus. She believed that Columbus had the potential to host an unparalleled cartoon event, and with the collaboration of Jeff Smith and Vijaya Iyer from Cartoon Books, they envisioned a festival that would rival its European counterparts, with a strong emphasis on the connection between creators and fans.
Since its inception, CXC has evolved into a prominent gathering in the world of comics and cartoons. It features panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and more.
The event consistently features an impressive lineup of guests who generously share their insights, experiences, and expertise, making it an invaluable opportunity for aspiring cartoonists and enthusiasts to learn and thrive.
Why Should You Attend?
- Celebration of Cartoon Artistry: CXC is about celebrating the world of cartoon artistry. Whether you’re a fan, an aspiring artist, or a seasoned professional, you’ll get to witness and appreciate the talent and creativity of cartoonists and comic book artists from various backgrounds and styles.
- Inspiration: CXC features incredible artists and creators, allowing you to gain insights into their creative processes, career journeys, and sources of inspiration. Attending the event can be highly motivating and educational for anyone interested in pursuing a career in cartooning or related fields.
- Networking: CXC is a great place to connect with fellow enthusiasts, artists, writers, publishers, and industry professionals. These connections can lead to collaborations and friendships with like-minded individuals who share your passion for cartoons, comics, and characters.
- Workshops and Panels: CXC hosts various workshops, panel discussions, and educational sessions covering various aspects of cartooning, from storytelling techniques to digital art tools. Attending these sessions can enhance your skills and knowledge in the field.
- Exhibitions: The event features exhibitions showcasing the work of talented artists and cartoonists. Attending these exhibitions can expose you to new and exciting art styles and narratives.
- Exclusive Content: CXC may offer exclusive content, such as sneak peeks of upcoming projects, behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process, and announcements about upcoming releases or collaborations. It’s a chance to be among the first to discover new and exciting developments in the world of cartoons.
- Supporting the Arts: By attending CXC, you help contribute to the promotion and support of the cartooning and comics industry. Your participation helps sustain this art form and the talented individuals who create it.
- Fun and Entertainment: Above all, CXC is designed to be enjoyable. Whether you’re attending in person or watching online, you can expect a fun and entertaining experience filled with laughter, creativity, and a sense of wonder.
CXC 2023 Special Guests
- Derf Backderf
- Shelly Bond
- Tauhid Bondia
- Raeghan Buchanan
- Jessica Campbell
- Brenda Champman
- Daniel Clowes
- Keito Gaku
- Nicole Goux
- M.S. Harkness
- Mars Heyward
- Jannie Ho
- John Jennings
- Denis Kitchen
- Calvin Reid
- Chase Schulte
- Chris Sprouse
- Raina Telgemeier
For a full list of CXC 2023 Exhibitors, please refer here.
CXC Announcement Party 2023
Watch the official CXC Announcement Party 2023 for an insight into this year’s events:
Schedule Guide
To ensure you don’t miss out on any of the action, here’s a comprehensive itinerary for the 4-day CXC 2023 celebrations.
September 27th (Kickoff Events)
- CXC Opening Night
Gateway Film Center
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM - Screening: Ohio Animation Showcase
Gateway Film Center
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
September 28th
- Talk & Teach: Comics Grad Student Panel
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
10:00 – 11:00 AM - Talk & Teach: Powerful Pedagogy: Teaching with Comics
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - Talk & Teach: The Art & Craft of Curating Anthologies & Crowdfunding
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
1:00 – 2:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
3:00 – 4:00 PM - A History of DreamWorks Animation
Film/Video Theatre – The Wexner Center for the Arts
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Free with ticket. Reserve your seat here. - Animation Restoration at Universal Studios presented by Chase Schulte, NBCUniversal
The Wexner Center for the Arts
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Free with ticket. Reserve your seat here. - CXC DreamWorks Reception
Location: The Wexner Center for the Arts
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM - The Prince of Egypt: Screening and Q&A with Brenda Chapman
Film/Video Theatre – The Wexner Center for the Arts
7:00 – 9:30 PM
Free with ticket. Reserve your seat here.
September 29th
- Talk & Teach: Experimentation & Activism in India’s Comics World
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Open House
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM - What We Talk About When We Talk About Bad Lettering
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - Comics Script Editing 101
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
Location: The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - Creative Obstacles ABCs
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Building Your Subscription Base Using Substack
Eisner Room – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Behind-The-Scenes Tours
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Keynote Conversation with Raina Telgemeier
Mershon Auditorium
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Free with ticket. Reserve your seat here. - CXC Opening Reception
Lobby – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM - Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Open House
Lobby – The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM - An Evening with Daniel Clowes
Mershon Auditorium
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Free with ticket. Reserve your seat here.
September 30th
- Stocked: Getting YOUR Books in Comic Shops!
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
10:00 PM – 11:00 AM - CCAD Spotlight on Shelly Bond
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - CXC Expo Floor Open
2nd Floor – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Kung Fu Panda Screening – Free with Ticket
Film/Video Theatre – The Wexner Center for the Arts
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM - Comic Book Cover Composition & Design
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM - Spotlight on Scott Chantler – Interviewed by Irene Velentzas
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM - Punk and Comics
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - Knights & Ninjas: Using History to Design Your Characters
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - How To Train Your Dragon Screening
Film/Video Theatre – The Wexner Center for the Arts
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Small Press/Indie Publishing
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Draw A 4-panel Comic
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Awards Break
2nd floor – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM - Spotlight on Denis Kitchen
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM - City as a Character in Memoir/Autobio
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM - Make it Move with the Charles M. Schulz Museum
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM - Shrek Screening
Film/Video Theatre – The Wexner Center for the Arts
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM - The Culture of Modern Comics Publishing
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM - State of the (Digital) Art: Exploring the Possibilities
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM - Keynote: Keito Gaku Interviewed by Justin Hall
Canzani Center Auditorium – Columbus College of Art & Design
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
October 1st
- Spotlight: Raeghan Buchanan
The Columbus Museum of Art
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM - Queer Branch
The Columbus Museum of Art
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM - Literary Adaptations: John Jennings in Conversation with Bryan Moss
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - Comic Coloring Workshop
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM - CXC Expo Floor Open
2nd Floor – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Spotlight on Derf Backderf
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - The Cartoonist Cooperative: Fighting for a Fairer Industry
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Make a Googly-Eyed Monster!
Room 3A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Celebration and Farewell to the Nib
Room 1A – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Super Comics Challenge
Auditorium – The Columbus Metropolitan Library
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Ticket Details
Admission to the CXC events is completely free! All you need to do is mark your calendars and gear up for a series of events spread throughout Columbus.
Venues & Parking Information
The Wexner Center for the Arts and Mershon Auditorium.
September 28th to 30th
1871 N High St.
Parking Options:
– Ohio Union North Garage: Located at 1759 N High St. While the rates might be slightly higher, its prime location offers convenient access.
– Street parking: Available on High and surrounding streets. Payments can be made via credit card or dedicated parking apps.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
September 28th to 29th
Sullivant Hall on OSU Campus, 1813 N High St.
Parking Options:
– Ohio Union North Garage
– Street parking on High and nearby streets.
Gateway Film Center
September 27th, 5:00 to 8:00 PM
1550 N High St.
Parking Options:
– South Campus Garage at 75 E 11th Ave.
– Street parking on High and nearby streets.
Columbus College of Art and Design and Canzani Center (CCAD)
Evening of September 39th
60 Cleveland Ave. Downtown Columbus
Parking Options:
– CCAD campus free event parking
– Street parking in the vicinity.
Columbus Museum of Art (CMA)
October 1st, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
480 E Broad St.
Parking Options:
– Museum-attached parking loc accessed via Gay St.
– Street parking around the area.
Columbus Metropolitan Library Main
September 30th to October 1st, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
96 S Grant Ave.
Parking Options:
– Free underground parking attached to the library.
– Grant Hospital parking lot
– Street parking.
For post-event-get-togethers, the following venues will be used:
Seventh Son Brewing Co.
September 29th, 9:30 PM
1101 N 4th St.
Parking Options:
– A small Attached lot
– Street parking, including 4th St.
The Walrus
September 30th, 9:30 PM to 12:00 MN
143 E Main St.
Parking Options:
– Street parking in the area.
– Nearby lots: 176 Main St., 246 S 3rd St., and more.
Pins Mechanical Co.
October 1st, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
141 N 4th St.
Parking Options:
– Street parking in the vicinity.
– Nearby lots: 190 E Long St., 167 Mckee Alley, etc.
Refer to this map for 2023 Venues for Cartoon Crossroads Columbus activities, including after-parties.
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