National Week and Amazon Comics Circuit consolidate regional production
With the support of the Cultural Foundation of Pará, the programs brought together artists from other regions in debates, workshops, and free fairs
The 11th edition of the National Comic Week in Pará integrated, this year, the Amazon Comics Circuit, an initiative that unites five independent events from the North region into a collaborative program. Held with the support of the Cultural Foundation of Pará (FCP), the National Comic Week promoted debates, workshops, and free fairs, in addition to guests from other states, reinforcing the dissemination of local production and the connection between artists from various regions.
Jorge Ramos, a producer at FCP and one of the event organizers, explained that since 2015, when it became a regular project of the Arthur Viana Public Library, the event has developed its own rhythm. What started as a small fair on the 3rd floor of Centur (FCP headquarters), with only 10 exhibitors, has now reached 80 registrations in its 11th edition. However, only 40 could participate due to space limitations.
“While the large fairs in the South are more commercial, here in the North the event has a different face. Of course, there is comic book sales, but the real focus is on exchange – of ideas, techniques, worldviews. Artists from Bahia, Rio, and other states come not only to teach but to learn about the Amazon, about this production that often doesn’t reach down there,” said Jorge Ramos. The server emphasized that the Foundation is not just a facilitator but a connector between the states of the North and Northeast, between local and national, between those who create and those who consume.
Exchange - For Samela Hidalgo, a comic book editor and cultural producer, the support from FCP was essential. According to her, "the support from the Cultural Foundation of Pará was fundamental for us to hold the National Comic Week as part of the Amazon Circuit, uniting the Northern states. With this backing, we were able to bring artists from other regions, who shared knowledge and also learned about our culture and identity. This helps to demystify the view that other parts of Brazil have of the Amazon. By supporting the event, the Foundation strengthens not only comics but the entire local artistic production."
Tai, a comic artist and also one of the organizers of the Circuit, emphasized that "the free event allows artists of any income to participate, something rare in Brazil." The structure provided by the Foundation - with workshops at Curro Velho and various activities at the Arthur Viana Public Library - forms new generations of comic artists and integrates the community of Vila da Barca.
Visibility - Regarding the Amazon Circuit, Tai said that "we united five previously isolated events from the North, creating a rotating calendar among the capitals of the region." The initiative arose to overcome the logistical and financial difficulties of bringing audiences from other regions, now optimizing circulation between northern states. "The unified communication and coordinated dates give unprecedented visibility to our production," concluded the organizer.
At 22 years old, Lucas Rhossard experienced his first experience as an exhibitor at the 11th National Comic Week in Pará. The artist, who started producing comics at 15, presented a collection of works developed since high school, including two unpublished strips created especially for the event.
"It’s exciting to see people getting to know my work," said Lucas Rhossard, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. For the young cartoonist, events like this play a fundamental role in creating bridges between artists and the audience. "Here, we find a welcoming environment where it is possible to make connections with people who share the same interests," he highlighted. The initiative allows new talents to have their first contact with the market and the reader.
Cultural exchanges - The Amazon Circuit arose from the articulation between event organizers in Pará, Amazonas, Amapá, Roraima, and Tocantins. Andrei Miralha, coordinator of Workshops at Curro Velho, spoke about the impact of the Amazon Comics Circuit, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a consolidated event over 11 years, which has grown by integrating the Amazon Circuit.
"This articulation between Northern states strengthens the visibility of local comic artists and their Amazonian narratives," reinforced Andrei Miralha, highlighting the value of cultural exchanges. "Artists from other regions come to know the Amazon, while we learn from their perspectives." This interaction, according to him, helps to overcome historical rivalries between cities like Belém (PA) and Manaus (AM), building a stronger Amazonian identity among comic artists in the region.
By enabling initiatives like the 11th edition of the National Comic Week in Pará and the Amazon Comics Circuit, the Cultural Foundation of Pará contributes to expanding the reach of Pará's culture and stimulating dialogue between artistic languages. By organizing and supporting this type of action, the institution not only preserves local production but also places it in a national context, highlighting the Amazon as a creative and plural hub.
