cartoons

Every year the National Press Club in Washington, DC hosts one of the most important cartooning events in the US. Cartoons and Cocktails is the largest and most important annual charity cartoon auction in America. Organized by and for the primary benefit of "Young DC," a youth journalism development organization in Washington, "Cartoons and Cocktails" also lists the Cartoonists Rights Network, International as one of its beneficiaries.

Every year at this event, CRN auctions off at least 10 cartoons sent in as donations by past CRN human rights abuse victim clients from all over the world. Cartoonists such as Adenle Adewale from Nigeria, "Popoli" from Cameroon, Essam Hanafy from Egypt, Mike Diana from the US, "Al Fin" from Colombia, "CORAX" from the former Yugoslavia, and Catalin Mihalache from Romania are regular contributors, among others.

Every year, the featured cartoon at the auction is a cartoon drawn by a cartoonist in special need. This year, the cartoon below has been offered by Nikahang Kowsar, an Iranian cartoonist currently on a cartoon exhibit tour in Canada. Nik fell into problems a few years ago when one of his cartoons offended some people in Iran.

This year's auction will be on October 2, 2003. "Cartoons and Cocktails" usually earns more than $35,000 for "Young DC". Invitations are available from Robert Russell at CRN in Burke, Virginia. Call 703 250 0035.

CRN has been encouraging its Affiliate organizations in Eastern Europe, South America and Africa to look carefully at the "Cartoons and Cocktails" catalogue and learn how to undertake a similar charity auction every year.

Cartoon by Nikahang Kowsar