Grantee Database

A.B.O. Comix

Grant Year

2018-19

Grant Program

Local Impact

Award Amount

$6,300.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, ABO Comix will curate and publish ABO Comix III: A Queer Prisoners Anthology showcasing the artistic work of 25 incarcerated Queer and/or Transgender (Q/T) visual artists. The artists’ work will speak to their experience as Q/T people in prison, showing snippets of daily life, sharing things that have happened to them, the experiences that led to their incarceration, and their perspective as Q/T people in prison.

Organization Summary

Publishing and Artist Development
Abolition Inc DBA A.B.O. Comix provides a publishing and artistic development platform for incarcerated and system-impacted LGBTQ2S+ artists and writers. We work with contributors to develop artwork, writing, comics, memoir, and other creative projects, provide editorial support, and help artists build skills, portfolios, and credentials. Programs include annual comic anthologies, solo publications, autobiographical works, omnibus collections, and multi-volume comic series.

Artist Compensation and Material Support
We fundraise for and provide financial assistance to incarcerated LGBTQ2S+ contributors and community members, especially those with little or no outside support. Revenue from publications, events, and donations is reinvested into commissary assistance, supplies, reentry needs, and material aid.

Correspondence, Community Connection, and Solidarity
We maintain LGBTQ2S+ community contact, friendship, and support across prison walls through correspondence, contributor relationships, referrals, and ongoing communication. We connect incarcerated artists with outside organizations, publishers, advocacy groups, and resources that support their creative, legal, personal, or reentry needs.

Public Education, Exhibitions, and Community Engagement
We introduce the public to the experiences, creativity, and political realities of LGBTQ2S+ people impacted by incarceration through publications, exhibitions, workshops, book/zine fairs, community events, public programs, and collaborations.

Oral History and Media
Through long-form interviews, podcast production, and narrative media, we document the experiences of currently and formerly incarcerated contributors, advocates, organizers, and people working in solidarity with those inside prisons.

Reentry, Parole, and Homecoming Support
We provide parole and reentry support for LGBTQ2S+ people preparing for release or returning home, including recommendation letters, documentation of artistic participation, referrals, resource navigation, community connection, and material support.

Community Space and Organizational Infrastructure
We maintain a physical space that supports programming, community gatherings, volunteer engagement, outreach, and collaboration with aligned organizations. Our space helps us reach neighbors, build local relationships, host safer community activities, and sustain long-term arts and solidarity work.

Organization

A.B.O. Comix

Address

2520 Telegraph Ave.

Oakland

94612

County

Alameda

Region

Bay Area – Other

Website

Email

Congressional District

California's 13th congressional district

State Assembly District

District 15

State Senate District

District 9

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