The EUNIC network (European Union National Institutes for Culture) is taking part in this year’s Algiers International Comics Festival (FIBDA) with a stand and a programme of activities bringing together European authors, illustrators and cultural professionals. The participation is part of a cultural cooperation initiative that has been underway for several years and has gained fresh momentum since the launch, in January 2026, of the “Focus on EUNIC in Algeria” project.
Present at FIBDA to support the programme, Alexis Castro, coordinator of the project supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Algeria, stressed that the cluster is above all a platform for cooperation among the various European cultural institutes operating in Algeria. “EUNIC is a European network of cultural institutes that brings together European cultural institutes present in Algeria that are members of the network, as well as diplomatic representations that are also involved in cultural affairs,” he explained.
The network’s purpose is to pool resources and foster cooperation in the cultural sector. “The idea behind this network is essentially to bring resources together, work together, share together and implement creative and cultural activities that both showcase European culture and build bridges with Algeria’s creative and cultural sector,” Mr. Castro said.
This openness is particularly important for the network, which aims to work more closely with young players on Algeria’s cultural scene. “Algeria’s creative and cultural sector is extremely dynamic, with young people who are eager to do very interesting things. The idea is not to remain in our own separate spheres, but to open up to collaboration, cooperation and exchanges with Algeria’s cultural and creative community,” he said.
At FIBDA, cooperation among the cultural institutes is reflected this year in a particularly strong presence. Several European countries, notably the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Spain, are being showcased through the participation of authors and illustrators invited to take part in panel discussions, drawing workshops and meetings with the public.
“We invited authors to lead panel discussions and workshops, and also to showcase their work and the diversity of the European comics scene,” our interlocutor explained.
The programme also ties in with this year’s FIBDA theme, dedicated to graphic novels. “This year, FIBDA’s theme is the graphic novel, so we also invited illustrators and people who contribute to illustrating novels. We responded to the festival management’s request in this regard and established a genuine partnership to broaden the range of European authors taking part,” he said.
Beyond the presence of authors from different countries, the participation also highlights the diversity of European comics traditions. “Each author and each country has its own particular characteristics. Each author comes to showcase both their work and the comics traditions of their own country,” he continued.
EUNIC’s participation in FIBDA is not, however, a first, as the network has been involved in a partnership with the festival for several years. This year, the initiative is further supported by the “Focus on EUNIC in Algeria” project, which facilitates the participation of European artists and their involvement in the festival’s various activities.
In addition, the EUNIC network’s stand is hosting workshops, an aspect that appears particularly important to the coordinator given the presence of a very young audience. “This year, we can see that there are many very young visitors, and it is heartwarming to be able to welcome them,” Alexis Castro concluded.