Comics Cultural Impact Collective Secures Arts Council England Project Grant

The Comics Cultural Impact Collective (CCIC) has secured a major boost for the UK comics sector with a successful Arts Council England Project Grant. The £37,000 award will support CCIC's mission to strengthen the industry through a new Fair Pay Charter. This involves a series of community‑driven consultation roundtables and the first phase of an ambitious online resource hub for creators.

• Comics Cultural Impact Collective receives an Arts Council England Project Grant.
• Grant will fund a Fair Pay Charter and online resources for comics creators.
• The comics community is invited to feed in on key areas.

CCIC, the Comics Cultural Impact Collective, today announced their success in obtaining an Arts Council England (ACE) Project Grant of £37,000.

This funding will go towards three main strands of work.

1. The creation of a Fair Pay charter for comics artists.
2. A set of roundtables to provide insights into key areas of the comics industry.
3. Phase one of an ambitious website for the UK comics community.

Fair Pay Charter

A consultation exercise and desk research will inform the making of a fair pay structure for comics creators. This is similar to those seen in the wider creative industries. With input from practitioners and publishers, the charter will set the standard for economic justice in a discipline that is notoriously poorly rewarded. The aim is that having a well-evidenced framework online will help both creators and publishers have constructive, informed conversations about pay, ultimately resulting in a healthier environment for all.

CCIC co-Director Myfanwy Tristram said, "We're increasingly hearing stories of impossible deadlines and poor page rates from artists. Hannah Berry's recent survey revealed that even among creators who receive an income from traditional publishing, only 11% earn above the minimum wage.

"The fair pay charter won't just set out a scale of suggested fees; it will break down every part of the comics creation process so that the hours put into work, and fair recompense for it, are visible to all".

Consultation roundtables

Fair pay and economic justice is one topic for discussion in the comics community. They will join a series of online roundtables. These roundtables are expected to start in late summer 2026.

Other key areas will be summarised in a report after the event. One area is sustainability and collective advocacy. This focuses on improving environmental practices in comics publishing. Another area is inclusion and access in comics. This includes amplifying marginalised voices and ensuring events are accessible. It also covers best accessibility practices across the industry.

Expanded website

Phase one of an ambitious plan will launch a website for the comics community. It will cater to creators, booksellers, publishers, and academics. The site will offer professional development resources and research reports. It will also include sector reports, events, and networking opportunities. All content will be freely accessible online for everyone involved.

"We have big plans for our website", said Myfanwy Tristram. "Many comics creators, especially those who are just starting out, aren't aware of the rich ecosystem of comics support groups, press, events and opportunities that are out there. The site will act as a guide, pointing at existing resources rather than trying to replicate them.

"We want to make it easy for creators to connect with opportunities and to tap into the many warm and welcoming comics networks we're lucky enough to have across the UK.

"Importantly, the funding allows for a bit of long-term planning — so many projects start up with good intentions, but fall dormant when enthusiasm and resource start to fade. We're baking in strategies that we hope will keep the resources up to date for years to come."

The grant period begins in June 2026.