Join this stimulating workshop exploring the art and challenges of translating comic books and graphic novels, organised by the ITI North East Network in collaboration with Yorkshire Translators and Interpreters.
If your regular work does not leave much room for creativity, you are in for a treat. In the words of Anthea Bell who famously translated the Asterix albums, “It’s all about finding the tone of voice in the original. You have to be quite free”.
With this in mind, they look at the interplay between the text and the image and how our translations will be affected by the space constraints of the medium - and they will have some fun with onomatopoeias!
The workshop unfolds in two parts:
13 November - Online launch
An online preparation phase launching Friday 13 November on Slack, with a short introductory video you can watch at your convenience. You’ll be assigned to a language pair and collaborate remotely over two weeks on selected texts. They will do their best to place you in your preferred language combination group, though this may depend on participant numbers.
28 November - In-person workshop
An in-person plenary session on Saturday 28 November (11am–4pm). You will meet at Elvet Riverside, Durham University, where Carolina Smith de la Fuente, experienced EN/FR > ES graphic novel translator, will share insights into this vibrant field. You will also discuss your group work, compare strategies, and reflect on the themes explored throughout the workshop. Lunch will be provided and is included in the ticket price.
Students: £10
ITI member fee: £15
Non-member fee: £20
Dates: 13 November: Online launch (time TBC) & 28 November: In-person plenary, 11am–4pm
Location: Online and Elvet Riverside, Durham University
Contact name: Auriane Destrument MITI
Contact email: [email protected]
Closing date: 09 November 2026