Comix in the Library
The Local Challenge
Trapani, a city of 60,000 on Sicily’s western tip, is rich in history but poor in cultural opportunities for its young people. For pre-teens and teenagers, much of life outside school unfolds in spaces where books and creativity are far from reach. The numbers tell the story: in Sicily, only 62% of people have read even one book in the past year, and library attendance is among the lowest in the country – around 100 visits per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to a national average of 568. At the Fardelliana Library, most reading promotion focuses on the youngest children (0–8 years), leaving pre-adolescents and adolescents, especially those who feel isolated or marginalised, almost absent from its activities.
The Initiative
The Comix in the Library initiative aims to open the city’s first dedicated comics section and to turn the library into a place where young people want to spend time. More than a room of books, the initiative brings nationally recognised writers, illustrators, and cartoonists to Trapani to lead workshops, talks, and live demonstrations. Reading groups will take shape, stories will be written and illustrated, and teachers will join in, learning how to use comics as a tool in their classrooms.
The initiative spreads beyond the library’s walls, finding audiences in schools, community spaces, and the park of Villa Margherita during the Trapani Comix & Games Festival. At its heart lies a simple aim: to bring the library closer to those who have drifted furthest from it, and to create an inclusive space where all young people, regardless of their ability, can see themselves in the stories they read and create.
What’s Next?
Sessions will take place not only in the library but also in schools, at the Nerd Attack headquarters, and during the Trapani Comix & Games Festival, ensuring that the project reaches children where they already spend their time. Teacher training seminars will run in parallel, equipping educators to integrate comics into their own classrooms.
By the end of the first year, the project will have built a functioning comics collection, hosted a full cycle of workshops and public events, and established regular reading groups for 10–16-year-olds. The aim is that by this point, the library will be a recognised reference point for comics in Trapani, with a programme and audience base that can sustain itself beyond the project’s initial phase.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
