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 - Next Stops

After making its debut at the Festival International du Film d'Animation d'Annecy, as part of the Bologna Children's Book Fair stand, where it offered MIFA (Marché International du Film d'Animation) visitors a rich programme of activities focused on cross-media storytelling and the convergence of creative industries, The Illustrators Survival Corner is ready to hit the road once again.

Its next stops will be the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (November 2026) and the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (November–December 2026).

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THE ILLUSTRATORS SURVIVAL CORNER: the story so far...

Launched in 2017 at Bologna Children's Book Fair, The Illustrators Survival Corner has travelled to numerous international book fairs and festivals over the past ten years.

Since 2021, it has become an integral part of the Bologna Grand Tour, BCBF's international journey designed to connect with new communities of illustrators and publishing professionals around the world while promoting illustration culture through a rich programme of educational and networking activities.

Over the years, it has taken part in a wide range of international events, offering masterclasses, workshops and portfolio reviews for illustrators and creative professionals at: Frankfurt Book Fair (2021), Sharjah International Book Fair (2021), Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025), Salon du livre de Montréal (2022), Illustration Forum London (2024), New Delhi World Book Fair (2024), and MIFA (Marché International du Film d'Animation) at the Festival International du Film d'Animation d'Annecy (2026).

The Illustrators Survival Corner has also contributed to the Children's Literature and Publishing Industry Days in Lithuania (2021) and has been hosted by 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, 2024 and 2025).

In May 2026, the Survival Corner further strengthened its presence in China by taking part in the first edition of the Shanghai Illustration & Pop Show (SIPS), providing an outstanding opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and network with hundreds of illustrators, creative studios, brands and industry professionals from around the world.