The Illustrators Survival Corner

The Illustrators Survival Corner was created in 2017 as a dedicated area for the illustrator community, providing a home for the many artists who come in search of creative insight, new collaborations, examples of good design and opportunities to show publishers their portfolios.

It caters to both beginners and professionals, offering a daily schedule of appointments that include:

Portfolio Review: an opportunity for emerging illustrators to present their portfolios to leading publishers, author illustrators, agents and art directors in order to receive opinions and valuable suggestions.
Workshops: hands-on drawing and design workshops for illustrators taught by international artists.
Masterclasses: offer illustrators concrete information and practical tools: from self-promotion to handling interviews with the publishers, from contracts to using social media, from creative processes to professional experiences.

The Illustrators Survival Corner is the base camp for the international illustration community. A place to learn, discuss and share professional experiences, a compass in the great sea of illustration.

THE ILLUSTRATORS SURVIVAL CORNER AT BCBF 2026

In 2026, The Illustrators Survival Corner, curated by Mimaster Illustrazione, will celebrate its 10th year of activity and return to Bologna Children’s Book Fair with a rich program of events that explore the key areas of the illustrator’s profession, always with a focus on new market trends and the future evolution of the industry.

While awaiting the 10th anniversary celebration in Bologna, The Illustrators Survival Corner will also take part in the upcoming edition of CCBF 2025 in Shanghai from November 14 to 16, before heading to Mexico in December for the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara 2025.

External Link

Mimaster Illustrazione

Book your portfolio review in Guadalajara

Bologna Portfolio Award

THE ILLUSTRATORS SURVIVAL CORNER, THE STORY SO FAR...

Launched in 2017 in Bologna, The Illustrators Survival Corner has toured numerous international fairs over the past ten years.

Since 2021 the Survival Corner has been accompanying BCBF on the Grand Tour, a journey around the world, connecting with new communities of illustrators and professionals in the book supply chain, through activities to spread the culture of illustration. A series of events (masterclasses, workshops, portfolio reviews), dedicated to illustrators and beyond, were held at the following fairs: Frankfurt Book Fair (2021), Sharjah International Book Fair (2021), Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), Salon du livre de Montréal (2022), Illustration Forum, London (2024) and New Delhi World Book Fair (2024).

The Survival Corner took part in the Children's Literature and Publishing Industry Days program in Lithuania (2021), and was hosted at the Moscow International Book Fair (2019), the Irudika Festival in the Basque Country (2022 and 2023), and the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024).