Shaping Stories, Growing Futures / Poetry Speaks Loud

Graphic Stories Vol.12 is the 12th edition of Graphic Stories, an international ConFest on Visual Communication in Cyprus that connects design education, contemporary culture, and social impact. In 2026, the festival unfolds across two cities and two complementary phases, linking the academic and professional design community with wider public audiences through talks, exhibitions, screenings, and hands-on workshops.Phase 1, Larnaca (Alexander College, 8–10 May 2026): a three-day programme of lectures and discussions with local and international creators, combined with three practical workshops (calligraphy, pricing and valuing creative work, personal development). The Larnaca programme also hosts the first presentation and awards ceremony for the winners of the international poster competition and exhibition “Poetry Speaks Loud”. The exhibition in Larnaca remains open from 8–29 May 2026, presenting 50 selected posters including 4 awarded works, bringing contemporary poster culture into an accessible public setting.Phase 2, Paphos (17–19 July 2026, Attikon Cinema, Old Electric, Gallery En Plo, and additional cultural venues): the festival expands into a more experiential and cross-disciplinary programme centred on poetry, film, and visual storytelling. It includes the screening of the documentary film Mauthausen and an artist talk by its creator, followed by workshops that explore the transition from graphic design to cinematic creation, an Art Empowerment workshop using poetry as a starting point for personal expression, and a calligraphy and poetry workshop, alongside a children’s creative workshop.In Paphos, “Poetry Speaks Loud” becomes a major international poster exhibition with works from Cyprus and abroad, accompanied by a participatory installation that encourages active audience engagement. The exhibition is open for two weeks (18 July–2 August 2026), presenting 60 posters (50 selected through the open international call and 10 invited designers). The 2026 edition addresses contemporary themes that shape visual communication today, including AI and design, design’s role in public discourse, professional sustainability for creatives, typography, calligraphy, photography, and the poster as an artistic and social medium. It is designed for students, emerging and established professionals, educators, researchers, young people, families, and the broader public, offering both high-level discourse and inclusive, hands-on cultural participation.