Rencontres BD en Mayenne

Rencontres BD en Mayenne: The Comic Strip Celebration Since 2008

Created in 2008 by ALABD (Laval Association of Comic Strip Amateurs), the Rencontres BD en Mayenne are held annually in March at the Salle des Ondines in Changé, a town bordering Laval. Over the years, this event has become the main meeting point for the ninth art in the Mayenne department, attracting a loyal audience of comic strip fans, families, and the curious.

A Rich Program Around Comic Strips

Each edition of Rencontres BD en Mayenne offers a varied program accessible to all ages. About fifteen authors of comic strips, graphic novels, and children's albums are invited for signing sessions and meet-and-greets with the public. Thematic exhibitions showcase the graphic universe of the invited artists, while comic strip workshops allow visitors to learn the techniques of drawing and sequential storytelling.

Activities for All Audiences

The festival also features a bookstore area managed by the M'Lire bookstore in Laval, a stand of specialized second-hand booksellers, children's activities, and live performances related to comic strips, such as drawn concerts or paper theater performances. These activities make Rencontres BD a friendly and family-oriented event, where everyone can discover or deepen their passion for the ninth art.

The Bull'Gomme 53 Prize: Youth Comic Strips in the Spotlight

The Rencontres BD en Mayenne also hosts the award ceremony for the Bull'Gomme 53 prize, a departmental prize for youth comic strips supported by the Department of Mayenne for over twenty years, in partnership with the Departmental Library of Mayenne and ALABD. Throughout the school year, classes and groups of young Mayenne readers read a selection of comic strip albums and vote for their favorite title. The winner(s) are then invited to Rencontres BD to receive their award and meet their young readers, creating a special moment of exchange between authors and the public.

Strong Local Roots and Solid Partnerships

The organization of Rencontres BD en Mayenne relies on a network of committed partners: the town hall of Changé, which provides the Salle des Ondines, the Departmental Library of Mayenne, the M'Lire bookstore in Laval, specializing in children's literature and comic strips, as well as numerous volunteers from ALABD. This partnership network allows the festival to offer a high-quality event, entirely free, open to all, and rooted in the cultural fabric of Mayenne.