Chantilly, VA -- (SBWire) -- 06/03/2016 --Afrofuturism Network will be holding its first ever comic book convention and conference on Saturday, June 11th in Chantilly, Virginia.

The conference will provide activities promoting creativity in the youth, innovative workshops, informative panel discussions and feature the talents of various artists. One of the aims of the conference is to highlight and amplify the voices of black artists, creators, and contributors to the genre. Cosplay is also allowed and even highly encouraged.

Afrofuturism, for the uninitiated, encompasses the world of sci-fi and fantasy culture from a black perspective and encourages a breaking down of current, outdated, and widely accepted paradigms to promote a more fully realized and complex black experience. Afrofuturism is intersectional, and, at its heart, about representation and fighting erasure through a kind of cultural activism.

"My goal and the goal of AFN in organizing this convention is to create a space where artists and creators within the genre can meet to make connections and exchange ideas. We want to raise awareness, encourage collaboration and increase the visibility of black comic book artists and writers in the mainstream, because, at the end of the day, representation matters." - William Jones, Founder of Afrofuturism Network

The conference will be held on Saturday, June 11th from 10 am to 6 pm at the AVS Inc (Audio Visual Systems) office, located at 14566 Lee Road in Chantilly, Virginia. Admission for adults is $10. Children age 12 and under can attend for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Local artists and other vendors wishing to take advantage of the marketplace can register for a table and participant badges. The table registration fee is completely free and includes one 6' x 30" table with two chairs. Vendors can set up anytime between 8:30 am and 9:30 am on the day of the conference.

For more information about vendor registration, visit http://www.afrofuturismnet.com/main/workshop/.

For those traveling to attend the event, AFN recommends the Hyatt Place Chantilly/Dulles Airport South located at 4994 Westone Plaza in Chantilly VA for your hotel accommodations. There is a special rate of $105 per night (June 9th through June 13th) for those asking for the comic book fair rate. Interested parties can call 1-866-440-2995 and ask for Terrell Yough, Sales Manager.

About Afrofuturism Network
AFN seeks to support the ever growing community of black writers, artists, and thinkers in the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, comic books and film. Here, we analyze the contributions and portrayal of black characters in these mediums. AFN will examine the role and place of black people in the past present and future and serve as a hub for black creativity and thought.

Read more at afrofuturismnet.com.

About William Jones
William Jones, the founder of Afrofuturism Network, is a historian, "comic book geek", writer, and educator. He is a sought-after public speaker on the subjects of the history of black people in America, the image of black people in various forms of media, pop culture and hip-hop music, to name just a few. He has spoken on various college campuses and at conferences both nationally and abroad.

Publicist: Blue Artists, LLC
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