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

For this edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, The Illustrators Survival Corner returns once again - the space dedicated to illustrators curated by Mimaster Illustrazione and created to offer opportunities for discussion, in-depth exploration, and professional growth to the Fair’s audience.

Publishers, agents, illustrators, art directors, and authors will bring to life a rich program of masterclasses, workshops, and portfolio reviews exploring the key areas of the profession, always with an eye on new market trends and the future evolution of the field.

As every year, The Illustrators Survival Corner will host leading names in international illustration. This edition will feature Angie Kang, Beatrice Alemagna, Sophie Blackall, Catia Chien, Matthew Forsythe, Sergio Ruzzier, and Sydney Smith among its protagonists.

Highlights not to be missed include a talk curated by the Sendak Fellowship dedicated to Maurice Sendak and to the value of studying past masters as a source of inspiration and creative direction; Matthew Forsythe’s masterclass on building fantastical worlds; and a two-voice dialogue between two of the greatest names in children’s illustration, Sophie Blackall and Sergio Ruzzier. Graphic designer Riccardo Falcinelli will speak about Marie Neurath and the pioneering role of infographics in modern visual communication; Catia Chien and Beatrice Alemagna will join Leonard Marcus to explore the world of children’s illustration; and a panel featuring the Sendak Foundation, Aria Ungerer, and Ai Komagata will discuss how they work to preserve and enhance the artistic legacies of great authors.

There will also be workshops led by Angie Kang, Ali Boozari, Sydney Smith, and Sunkyung Cho; a live painting session guided by Ieva Babilaitė; a meeting dedicated to Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration; and a series of talks focused on professional skills.

The Survival Corner will also host the exhibition The Original Art, one of the most prestigious initiatives organized by the Society of Illustrators in New York, accompanied by a series of related activities including workshops and guided tours.

Portfolio reviews - long considered one of the most appreciated opportunities for illustrators seeking career advice - will also return, featuring professionals such as Marianna Balducci, Anna Castagnoli, Kate Cosgrove, Laurent Linn, and Marc Majewski, as well as publishers including Amanuta, Becco Giallo, Chronicle Books, Kalandraka, and Penguin Random House.

A special space will be dedicated to a series of licensing-focused portfolio sessions organized by BLTF/Kids.

The Portfolio Marathon will return again this year on Thursday, April 16 — an entire day dedicated to portfolio reviews. This initiative, created by Mimaster Illustrazione and the Bologna Children's Book Fair, is designed for finalists of the Illustrators Exhibition 2026. It aims to reward talent and the achievements of those who passed the jury’s first selection, while facilitating connections between publishers and emerging voices in international illustration.

On the occasion of the Portfolio Marathon, participants’ portfolios will also be evaluated for the BCBF26 edition of the Bologna Portfolio Award, which offers the illustrator with the best portfolio a trip to participate in the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair in November 2026.

For the first time, The Illustrators Survival Corner will also offer selected activities created in collaboration with sponsors who have chosen to actively support creativity: Carioca and Fedrigoni will help make the experience even richer and more stimulating by providing creative activities and materials for participating illustrators.

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

Founded in Bologna in 2017, The Illustrators Survival Corner has, over the past ten years, travelled to numerous international book fairs and industry events.

Since 2021, the Survival Corner has accompanied Bologna Children's Book Fair on its Grand Tour, a true journey around the world designed to connect with new communities of illustrators and publishing professionals through activities that promote and celebrate illustration culture.

Over the years, it has taken part in a wide range of fairs and festivals with a rich programme of masterclasses, workshops and portfolio reviews aimed at illustrators and creative professionals alike, including 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), and the New Delhi World Book Fair (2024).

The Illustrators Survival Corner has also contributed to the programme of 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 expanded its presence in China by participating in the first edition of the Shanghai Illustration & Pop Show (SIPS), an extraordinary opportunity for dialogue, exchange and networking with hundreds of illustrators, creative studios, brands and industry professionals from around the world.

Today, The Illustrators Survival Corner continues to grow as an international platform for professional development, creative exchange and community-building, bringing together illustrators and visual storytellers wherever BCBF's global journey takes it.