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Annual Convention September 11-14, 2025

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Joel Pett receives cartoonist association’s Ink Bottle Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEMPSTEAD, NY — Cartoonist Joel Pett is the recipient of this year's "Ink Bottle Award" from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

The award was announced Saturday, Nov. 4, during the closing banquet of the AAEC's convention at Hofstra University in Hemstead, NY. The Ink Bottle is given annually to an individual who promotes and stimulates interest in the art of editorial cartooning, and encourages an ever closer association among all cartoonists.

AAEC President Ann Telnaes chose to give Pett the award "for his continuing participation and steadfast support for threatened cartoonists throughout the world as president of the Cartoonists Rights Network International, his years of service to the AAEC both as president and convention host, and his commitment to the value and importance of local editorial cartooning."

Pett was notified of the news via text, as he forgot to mention to anyone he was leaving the convention a day early.

 

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OUR MISSION

The mission of the AAEC is to champion and defend editorial cartooning and free speech as essential to liberty in the United States and throughout the world.

The AAEC aims to be an international leader in support of the human, civil, and artistic rights of editorial cartoonists around the world, and to stand with other international groups in support of the profession.


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The AAEC John Locher Memorial Fellowship is awarded each year to one early-career cartoonist whose work demonstrates clear opinions and strong artistry on political and social topics. Deadline to be considered is the end of March.

The Locher Fellow will receive a one-year Regular membership in the AAEC, be a guest of the CXC Festival — held every fall in Columbus, Ohio —  and have the opportunity to meet with editorial cartoonists during the year of the Fellowship for portfolio reviews and career advice.


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Every two weeks throughout the year, The Learning Forum and the AAEC offers CARTOONS FOR THE CLASSROOM, a free lesson resource for teachers discussing current events.  Visit NIEonline.com for more lesson plans.