Annual Convention

Annual Convention October 5-8

The AAEC and Association of Canadian Cartoonists will be joining with the Cartoon Art Museum in San Franscisco for a 3-day celebration of editorial art and political cartoonists, October 5-8, 2023.

Online registration is now open!


Convention Recap: Videos from CXC 2022 now online

If you missed this year’s Cartoon Crossroads Columbus Festival in October, CXC has now posted all of the sessions on their YouTube channel — including the AAEC-sponsored panels. First up was the highly informative “Taking the Pain of Out of Drawing” with former massage therapist Kriota Willberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGocxIGGx6U “Do Awards Still Matter?” was the big […]

The Billy Ireland opens a timely cartoon exhibit on racism in America

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum presents a new retrospective in cartoons, “STILL: Racism in America,” opening this Saturday, May 21, at 6pm. The exhibit will run May 21 through October 23, and will be open during the AAEC/CXC convention in the fall. https://cartoons.osu.edu/events/opening-reception-still-racism-in-america/ If you can’t make it to Columbus for this weekend’s […]

The International Editorial Cartoon Award Returns

The International Editorial Cartoon Award returns for 2022 after a Covid hiatus. Patrick Chappatte and the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation will announce the winner on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, with an online presentation and live panel discussion with the two 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners, journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. The award returns […]

Greenberg takes 1st place in Davenport contest

AAEC member Steve Greenberg won First Place in the “Homer Davenport Cartoon Contest,” based in Silverton, Oregon. The local contest celebrates home-town hero Homer Davenport, the late-19th/early 20th century editorial cartoonist famous for his quote “No honest man need fear cartoons.” The contest is usually part of the town’s annual Davenport Days Festival in August […]

The Billy Ireland (re)launches their first digital exhibit

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum (aka the CLAM) launches their first online exhibit. Ok, technically they are relaunching the 2017 show “Tales from the Vault: 40 Stores/40 Years” online, but if you missed it then, it’s new to you now!   https://library.osu.edu/site/40stories/

College satire show looking for contributors

Student cartoonist Alexandra Bowman has put out an open call for contributors to a comedy webshow out of Georgetown University. “Are you a college student interested in working in political satire, video production, and/or comedy writing? The Hilltop Show is in urgent need of writers, video editors, on-camera actors, and researchers. “The political comedy webseries, […]

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library throws open their collection (online)

Cartoonists have always known it is worth traveling to The Ohio State University just to see The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. But now that the long-time Columbus, OH, mecca is closed to the public for the foreseeable future, what are fans of the cartoon arts to do? Luckily, the CLAM has been slowly […]

Live from their home studios—cartoonists online!

Live cartoonists live! Like musicians and comedians with no nightclub to perform in, cartoonists have taken to the internet to do live webscasts while sheltering in place.  CBS and New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly is doing a live drawing session every afternoon at 5pm on Periscope and her instagram feed: https://instagram.com/lizadonnelly/. If you miss it, […]

BUY THE BOOK! SUPPORT THE CARTOONISTS!

“FRONT LINES: Political Cartooning and the Battle for Free Speech” is now available online! Published as a companion to the 2019 Billy Ireland Museum exhibit of the same name, FRONT LINES features lots of cartoons, and essays by Joel Pett, Lucy Caswell, Roslyn Mazer, Rob Rogers and Matt Wuerker. $20 gets you the book, poster […]

Start the year off supporting a good cause

Per his last wishes, donations of funds in Tom Spurgeon’s name can now be made to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in support of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) programming. This annual festival has become a key destination for cartoonists in just 5 short years. The AAEC and its members have been a supporters […]

The Triple Threat of David Fitzsimmons

Are you amazed by cartoonists who have crazy talents other than drawing big heads? Are you in Arizona? Then head to Tucson this Saturday, December 7 for the live afternoon taping of David Fitzsimmons annual holiday special, the Arroyo Cafe Holiday Radio Show, a “hilarious, song-and-comedy-filled extravaganza.” Recorded in front of a live audience at the […]

Dwane Powell fondly remembered

Condolences poured in from across North America after word broke that cartoonist Dwane Powell finally succumbed to the cancer he's been battling for years. Dwane died peacefully at home on Sunday, April 14. He and his wife Jan had just celebrated their 48th anniversary a few days before. Close family friend Ann Telnaes posted, "Dwane […]

Attention cartoonists — Call for Art!

The 24th Gabrovo Biennial of Humour and Satire in Art invites artists to contribute their edgy takes on the concept of the public sphere. The call is for both a competition and a curated exhibition. "Dimensions of Publicness" will run from May 17 to September 30, 2019, in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. Click here for more information: https://biennial.humorhouse.bg/en/ + + + +  […]

Call for Entries: 21st International Biennial of Graphic Humor

(Ed note: Two decades ago, cartoonists from the AAEC went to Cuba as part of a cultural exchange trip. Here's an opportunity for them to return.)   CALL FOR XXI INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF GRAPHIC HUMOR CUBA 2019 The Humorist and Cartoonist Guild of the Union of Journalists of Cuba and the Museum of Humor of San […]

Epling on display

At a time when newspaper chains are idiotically cutting their popular staff cartoonists (yeah @Gannett, we're looking at you ya dummy), smaller papers still know the draw of having their own cartoonist—like Christopher Epling at the Appalachian News-Express in Kentucky. Epling has an exhibit of his artwork up this month.

Cartoonists and Press Freedom at Davos

Last week Patrick Chappatte was in Davos for the World Economic Forum, where he helped put together a "Cartooning for Peace" exhibit. He wrote, "It was a chance to showcase the work of the Geneva Foundation I co-founded with Plantu, and whose honorary chair was Kofi Annan (that’s a separate entity from the Cartooning for Peace […]

Last call for these epic cartoon exhibits!

In Washington DC? Get to the Library of Congress ASAP! "Drawn to Purpose" closes on Oct. 20. This exhibit of all-women illustrators includes work by AAEC members Ann Telnaes, Signe Wilkinson and Jen Sorensen, among many other talented artists. For complete details on the show, got to https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/drawn-to-purpose/about-this-exhibition/ Also, you have just 4 days left […]

Signe Wilkinson in India

Are you in India? Like cartoons? Stop by an see a new exhibit on Philadelphia cartoonist Signe Wilkinson @SigneWilk. If halfway around the world is too far to go for a show, you can at least read about it here.

AAEC + CXC — Two weekends of adventures in cartooning

The AAEC had two big weekends in a row, first in Sacramento for their annual convention, and then at CXC in Columbus, Ohio, (which is fast becoming one of the best comics art festivals in the country). Several reports came out in the wake of the Sacramento confab: • Graphic novelist Brian Fies ("A Fire Story") […]

See us at CXC this weekend!

Love cartoons? Like meeting cartoonists? In Ohio? Head to CXC — Cartoon Crossroads Columbus— this weekend in Columbus, Ohio! Join the AAEC for two panels on "Cartooning In The Time Of Trump" with Ann Telnaes,  Signe Wilkinson, Nate Beeler and Rob Rogers on Saturday, Sept. 29. And on Sunday, Sept. 30, there will be a […]

Hey everybody — editorial cartooning is dead! AGAIN!

Or so says the National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/editorial-cartooning-decline-serena-williams-controversy/ This is, what, the 11th or 12th time since 1954 that editorial cartooning has been declared dead? We're like the Doctor Who of cartooning or something.   So… if we're dead — LET'S HAVE A WAKE!!!   Tonight the 62nd Annual Convention of the Association of American Editorial […]

The AAEC lands in Sacramento for their annual convention

It's here! The annual gathering of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists kicks off this week in Sacramento, CA. Running from Sept. 20-22, the convention will see three days of cartoonists, satirists and journalists from across the US, Canada and Down Under hobnobbing, panelling and pub crawling.  AAEC President Pat Bagley, and co-hosts Jack Ohman […]

Three cartoonists cited for “Advancing Democracy” with award

Speaking of Michael Ramirez, he is one of three editorial cartoonists — along with Gary Varvel and Mike Luckovich — who will be receiving the "Advancing American Democracy Award" next week.   All three will be bestowed with the honor as part of the The Mary Tucker Jasper Speaker Series held on Sept. 20 at […]

Join us at the AAEC table at Cartoon Crossroads 2018

We are 10 days out from our gathering in California, but it isn't the only AAEC event happening this month. Immediately following the Sacramento convention (the very next week) is CXC — Cartoon Crossroads Columbus — the cartoon festival in Columbus, Ohio. The AAEC plans to have an exhibitors table at their Marketplace Expo Saturday […]

LAST CHANCE for Billy Ireland Freedom of Speech submissions

  Deadline to submit work for consideration to the 2019 Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum exhibit is this FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 "The Front Line: Editorial Cartoonists and the First Amendment" will run for six months in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University, and be part of next year's CXC and […]

Rex Babin exhibit opens in Sacramento

Love cartoons? In Sacramento? Check out "Drawing Caleeforneeya: Political Cartoons Of Rex Babin." The retrospective of the late great editorial cartoonist opens today, Aug. 14, and runs thru Oct. 14. https://www.californiamuseum.org/rex-babin The AAEC will also be holding a special opening reception at the exhibit on Sept. 20 to kick off this year's convention.  

Deadline for Billy Ireland exhibit on free speech is August 31

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum will be hosting a major exhibition on cartoonists and the First Amendment in 2019. Co-curated by Lucy Caswell and Ann Telnaes, "The Front Line: Editorial Cartoonists and the First Amendment
" will run for six months in 2019 in the lead-up to CXC and the AAEC Convention at The […]

Deadline Reminders! [Cue “Final Countdown”]

  Calling all cartoonists! Here are your deadline reminders for August 2018!   TWO WEEKS & COUNTING: The 2018 Rex Babin Memorial Award for Excellence in Local Cartooning. Deadline is FRIDAY, AUGUST 17.   THREE WEEKS & COUNTING: Reserve your hotel room for the 2018 AAEC Convention in Sacramento. Deadline is FRIDAY, AUGUST 24.   FOUR […]

It’s happy hour somewhere…

  A mash of cartooning news for your Friday afternoon reading. So crack open a cold one and kick back…    If you're in Oregon, you still have time to make it to the annual Homer Davenport Community Festival in Silverton, OR this weekend, Aug. 3-5.  The annual celebration of hometown hero cartoonist Homer Davenport […]

The week in Trump

So much newsing! Here are just a few drinks that we caught in our cup from the firehose that was Donald J. Trump this week: Friend of the AAEC Rod Emmerson found his "Trump Trophy" cartoon go viral worldwide. Barry Blitt talks about his latest New Yorker cover and how he SEES TRUMP EVERYWHERE. Bill […]

Rob Rogers’ cartoons pop-up in a show — across the street from the White House

The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design is launching a pop-up show of cartoons by Rob Rogers this summer. Conveniently located across from the White House, the Trump-centric exhibit showcases all the cartoons killed by Rogers' former employer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Co-sponsored by the AAEC, Spiked: The Unpublished Political Cartoons of Rob Rogers, runs from July […]

The return of the Rex Babin Local Cartooning Award

In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, tours an exhibit of California political cartoons with AAEC President Matt Davies and Rex Babin. Photo courtesy of Mary Locher.   CALL FOR ENTRIES: The 2018 Rex Babin Memorial Award for Excellence in Local Cartooning SACRAMENTO, CA — The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is once again looking for […]

New show on old cartoons

Like history? Love cartoons? In Baton Rouge? Be sure to stop by the Old State Capitol for the new exhibit "Lines with Power and Purpose: Editorial Cartoons,” showing July 5 through Sept. 29. The collection features "cartoons from the so-called 'Golden Age' of print journalism —the first half of the 20th century— and includes the work […]

Freedom of Speech: Call for submissions reminder

Calling all cartoonists, calling all cartoonists… The Front Line: Editorial Cartoonists and the First AmendmentBilly Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, April 20 — October 27, 2019 Lucy Caswell and Ann Telnaes are co-curating a major exhibition on cartoonists and the First Amendment. It will run for 6 months 2019 in the lead-up to the AAEC […]

U of VA to be Pat Oliphant’s forever home

Pat Oliphant,one of the most influential political cartoonists of the 20th century, has donated his papers to the University of Virginia, an archive that includes correspondence, original artwork, sketchbooks & sculptures.    https://augustafreepress.com/famed-political-cartoonists-archives-arrive-at-uva/     UPDATE: Radio IQ talks to Pat Oliphant about the recent donation of his papers to the University of Virginia. The […]

What me, Worry? MAD Magazine exhibit opens at Ohio State

There probably isn't an editorial cartoonist out there who hasn't been influenced by MAD Magazine. Long the fool's gold standard for satire, the 70-year-old publication recently went through a major change, moving from its long-time home in New York City to California. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum celebrates the magazine's storied history with […]

Ann Telnaes and Mr. Fish at MoCCA Fest this weekend

Like cartoons? Love political satire? In New York? Ann Telnaes joins Mr. Fish and Steve Brodner at MoCCA Fest this weekend. The two day celebration kicks off at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. https://www.amny.com/things-to-do/mocca-arts-festival-preview-1.17884269      

Tickets for “State of Our Satirical Union” going fast

If you love satire and care about free speech, you might want to attend next's months symposium on the 30th Anniversary of Hustler v. Falwell. Join cartoonists, humorists & lawyers April 20-21 in Minneapolis for "State of Our Satirical Union." The two day event will be held at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at […]

Cartoonist alert — Call for submissions #3

Making Faces: Editorial Cartoonists and the First Amendment [working title]Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, April 20 — October 27, 2019 Here's the big one! Lucy Caswell and Ann Telnaes will be co-curating a major exhibition on cartoonists and the First Amendment. It will run for 6 months in the lead-up to the 2019 AAEC […]

Cartoonists talk about Gagged

Cartoonist Andy Davey gives a report on the evening of talks accompany the “Gagged” exhibition of cartoons that recently closed in London. Martin Rowson, Zunar, Khalid Albaih and Bro Russell go after the subject of the oppression, censorship and gagging of political cartoonists around the world. https://procartoonists.org/gagged-talk/  

Military cartoonist lands at Gettysburg

Veteran combat artist —and long-time AAEC friend— Chip Beck has a new gig: Artist-in-Residence at Gettysburg National Battlefield.  On Friday, Dec. 1, Beck will discuss his residency at an Artist Showcase Presentation at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free, and open to […]

New show highlights women cartoonists and illustrators

The Library of Congress opens a major exhibit tomorrow focusing on women artists, including current AAEC President Ann Telanes. "Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists" looks at the work of 43 professional female illustrators over the last 150 years. The Library will release a companion book, by curator Martha H. Kennedy, in the spring […]

AAEC co-sponsors NYC Roz Chast exhibit and events

The Museum of the City of New York is currently hosting a cartoon exhibition: Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs,
a retrospective of the celebrated *New Yorker* artist and cartoonist’s work since 1978. The Association of
American Editorial Cartoonists is an official co-sponsor of the series of events below accompanying the
exhibit (beginning next week, which features AAEC member Liza Donnelly). As a co-sponsor, our membership is
offered a 25% off discount on tickets. Click for event information.

Statement from AAEC Board

Long-time AAEC members Gary Huck and Mike Konopacki are currently showing their cartoons in an exhibition at Cornell University, where they have come under attack from conservative and liberal critics on campus and off-campus.
Some have complained about the use of certain symbols, such as swastikas and Confederate flags. Others have implied rape imagery. Still others note that the cartoons solely attack the GOP.
Political cartoons employ imagery to make a point. Sometimes the meaning of the imagery is clear, sometime it is more ambiguous. But to willfully project an unintended meaning to a cartoon is offensive to the artist and the free expression of ideas.
In the case of Mr. Huck and Mr. Konopacki, there is absolutely nothing in the use of their imagery that is anything other than within the finest traditions of American editorial cartooning.
Mr. Huck and Mr. Konopacki are owed the full exposition of their work at Cornell, attendees of the exhibition deserve to see all of their work with no censorship, and the AAEC Board urges Cornell to be mindful that a university is a marketplace of ideas, and not a place for censorship or fear.
The AAEC Board of Directors strongly supports Mr. Huck and Mr. Konopacki.

KAL’s busy spring

KAL goes to the Middle East, launches iPhone App, and plans to appear at the Nasher Museum.

Rob Rogers Speaks

Courtesy of Pop Filter comes the announce that Rob Rogers will be puttin in an appearace at Carnegie Mellon on Feb. 4

New Cartoon Show in Durham NC

“Lines of Attack: Conflicts in Caricature,” opens Feb. 4, at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, NC.

Thanksgiving briefs

A number of cartoonists have something to be thankful for: Ted Rall a new book, Robert Ariail a new gig, Dick Locher a new sculpture, David Brown a show in Brazil, and more! Read on…

Kal BIG in Baltimore Saturday Night

On Saturday, Nov. 28, cartoonist Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher will team up with The Baltimore Improv Group for "for a fun Thanksgiving weekend spectacular." The special holiday collaboration will kick off at 8PM at Baltimore's Creative Alliance. For more info visit BIG's webpage: https://www.bigimprov.org/escapethefamily h/t to ComicsDC blog

OUR MISSION

The mission of the AAEC is to champion and defend editorial cartooning and free speech as essential to liberty in the United States and throughout the world.

The AAEC aims to be an international leader in support of the human, civil, and artistic rights of editorial cartoonists around the world, and to stand with other international groups in support of the profession.



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CARTOONS IN EDUCATION

Cartoons in Education

Every two weeks throughout the year, The Learning Forum and the AAEC offers CARTOONS FOR THE CLASSROOM, a free lesson resource for teachers discussing current events.  Visit NIEonline.com for more lesson plans.