10 YEARS OF THE BF 6 TO WATCH! Creating as many profile-raising opportunities as I can for our Broken Frontier ‘Six to Watch’ artists has become one of the most important facets of BF for me in recent years. For those coming to this new, and unaware of what the programme is about, every year at Broken Frontier I select six emerging creators (and sometimes established but underappreciated ones too) to champion throughout the year. There’s an offer on the table for them to get guaranteed coverage at BF throughout the year, alongside mentoring and support off-site.
Poster by Manon Wright
With 2024 being the tenth year of the initiative I wanted to make sure we pushed the boat out and took up as many in-person/online possibilities as possible. Providing the chance to table at events, to take part in exhibitions, to feature on podcasts and livestreams, speak at events and so on, has been key. But this past Saturday, August 31st, nearly 30 of the artists from across the last decade got their very own ’10 Years of the BF Six to Watch’ party event, courtesy of our hosts, friends, and long-term collaborators Gosh! Comics.
A group shot of some (but not all!) of the Six to Watch artists who were there on the night including Dominique Duong, Zoè Delautre Corral, Sabba Khan, Aleesha Nandhra, Sammy Ward, Beatrice Mossman, Alxndra Cook, Kat Cass, Kry Garcia, Joe Stone, Manon Wright, Ed Firth, Mereida Fajardo, Tom Philipson, Zhenyi Zheng, Tal Brosh, Abs Bailey, Cat Sims, Alba Ceide, Norm Konyu, Kamila Krol and BF’s Andy Oliver
And what a night it was. A table packed full of Six to Watch work, from not just those there on the night but also those that couldn’t make it, was a testament not just to the vibrancy of the UK small press scene but also to the talents of the creators who have been a part of it over the years. Just a reminder of some of the publishers they have been picked up by after being a part of the Six to Watch family: 2000 AD/Rebellion, Avery Hill Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Faber, Fantagraphics, Graphic Universe/Lerner, Icon Books, Image Comics, Jonathan Cape, Koguchi Press, kus! comics, Myriad Editions, Oni Press, SelfMadeHero, Seven Stories Press, Street Noise Books, Titan Books, Unbound and Z2 Comics. Not to mention an uncountable number of micropublishers.
That’s an enormously impressive list. Unsurprising, though, as they are all incredible talents and, if you don’t mind me saying this once again, we do keep telling you this well in advance…
So enjoy some images from the night, relive the laughter and the camaraderie, and maybe take the chance to investigate the work of a ‘Six to Watch’-er unfamiliar to you. You won’t be disappointed.
Alxndra Cook (Class of 2021) with BF’s Andy Oliver (Class of 1879)
From published graphic novels to self-published comics just some of the vast array of treasures on the artists’ table at Gosh. Not pictured are all the books that ended up on the bench below.
Zoè Delautre Corral (Class of 2024)
Kamila Krol aka Pigeon (Class of 2020)
A flurry of activity at the 6 to Watch table
Sabba Khan (Class of 2017)
An extremely packed Gosh! Comics
There’s always an after-party!
2024 marks the tenth year of Broken Frontier’s ‘Six to Watch‘ initiative. Look for articles throughout the year celebrating the work of those artists who have been a part of the programme.
