ReedPop has announced that the MCM Scholarship will be returning for a second year ahead of MCM Comic Con in May. The scholarship aims to help aspiring creatives kickstart their future creative careers.
The return of the MCM Scholarship comes as a part of a wider commitment to investing in the future of the creative industry and supporting young people from working class and underrepresented backgrounds who may not otherwise have easy access to their dream careers. The scholarship will present the winners with the opportunity to make connections with leading figures in their chosen fields, giving them a massively valuable shot to get their foot in the door.
The winner of the MCM Scholarship will also be granted free entry for all three days of MCM Comic Con, a three night stay at a hotel near Excel London and a cash prize of £500. The winner will also receive a bespoke itinerary based on their career goals, but will also be free to explore the show as they please.
Applications for the MCM Scholarship are open now, and close at midnight on Monday 21 April 2025. Anyone with a desire to take the plunge into a pop culture career such as gaming, comics, literature, acting or more can apply. Winners will be chosen based on the strength of their application and the passion displayed for their chosen field.
In order to have a shot at winning the MCM Scholarship, applicants are encouraged to describe their current involvement in their desired creative field, list their long-term career goals, explain how winning will help them achieve those goals, and share any relevant portfolio work. A video of the previous winners’ experience can be found HERE and learn more about the MCM Scholarship and apply HERE.
Last year’s winners included:
- Muyembe Mwanza
- Muyembe is a writer passionate about storytelling and amplifying black voices in the UK. She’s currently working on two novels and was able to meet leading authors V.E. Schwab, Veronica Roth and Sabaa Tahir about their writing, publishing and personal journeys as a part of her MCM Scholarship experience.
- Faith Molloy
- An aspiring video game artist studying Video Game Art and Design at De Montfort University, Faith has experience as a concept artist with Facepie Productions and has apprenticed at Rebellion Studios, gaining hands-on experience in animation rigging for video games. Faith’s MCM Scholarship win enabled her to have a series of 1-on-1s with game developers at the MCM x EGX Careers Fair.
- Leigh Licorish
- Leigh aspires to work in comics as a penciller, and has experience in writing, pencilling, inking and colouring. They have contributed to fan comics and charity projects, including TFNation’s yearly comic and a fan continuation of Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics. Last year at MCM x EGX, Leigh was able to speak to Alex Rae, Comic Publishing Talent Manager at ReedPop, and will likely be exhibiting at MCM Comic Con this May with an Artist Alley table of their own.
Leigh Licorish, 2024 MCM Scholarship winner said: “My career goals are drawing comic books full time; it’s what I want to do and it’s what I truly love doing. I think it’s incredibly important to support upcoming artists, and running the scholarship is MCM’s way of showing their support.”
MCM Comic Con returns to Excel London from Friday 23 May to Sunday 25 May, and will offer fans a chance to attend insightful panels, meet their favourite writers and celebrity guests, participate in writing workshops hosted by prominent authors and more. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
