Author: Birgit Vlk
Oops, We Did It Again!
After Bernd “Blue” Ertl left the organizing team and with all the challenges of COVID, there was a moment when we felt too tired to organize another event.
But—I’ve had some of the best moments of my life at Caricature Conventions. Being part of this tribe is a unique and precious gift. That’s why I wanted to give something back to the community.
And I’m clearly not alone in feeling this way. Bernd “Orange” Weidenauer is my partner in the core team. Xi is our webmaster, Ralf takes care of the graphics department, and Jan is always there to help. You may not know this, but we do all of this in our spare time, unpaid—but with lots of love and enthusiasm.
So yes, we really did it again!
We changed the location—our biggest challenge. Leaving the metropolis of Vienna and moving Eurocature25 to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere (which happens to be Bernd Orange’s birthplace) was a bold step. We wanted everything under one roof, which would have been far too expensive in Vienna.
In April 2024, we checked out two possible venues—and instantly fell in love with the second one: Campus Horn!
It was perfect: 60 rooms, a cozy cafeteria with three meals a day, a bright drawing room with daylight (can you believe it?!), and a stunning view.
Still, there was the issue of getting everyone from all over the world from Vienna to Horn. So we rented a bus to make the transfer from the airport and train stations as smooth as possible. And it worked!
Eurocature2025 was fully booked a month before it even began: April 4–10, 2025.
All the stress melted away when the bus arrived at Campus Horn and I saw the happy faces of our participants—from Japan (hi Kage!) to the USA (hi Beau!).
We kicked off the convention with an icebreaker party at a nearby restaurant, just a 3-minute walk around the little lake affectionately nicknamed “the North Sea.”
There was a lovely dinner, plenty of conversations, and—for the first time ever—karaoke! (Still inspired by the Japan Grand Prix in Tokyo in February 2025.)
The convention room officially opened on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Our guest speaker lineup was diverse and inspiring:
Digital diva Angie Jordan explained shapes and angles in caricature.
Illustrator Thomas Kriebaum gave us insights into the life of a cartoonist.
The drawing musician Tim Acke brought lots of music to the festival.
The legend Sebastian Krüger, who inspired so many of us to start caricature drawing, was interviewed by moderator Bernd Orange—sharing thoughts on his past, his future, and everything in between.
Cartoonist Oliver Ottitsch showcased his dark humor in a hilarious cartoon show.
Still No Competitions in 2025
In today’s world, where competition and cutthroat mentality seem to be everywhere, we’ve decided to take a different path.
We don’t do competitions. The spirit of Eurocature is about peaceful support, joyful gatherings, and artists coming together—no extra pressure, just a few days of fun and artistic growth.
We believe that true growth and fulfillment come not from beating others, but from lifting each other up and finding joy in shared experiences.
Public Exhibition on the Final Evening
On the last evening, we presented our studio pieces and those created during Eurocature at Campus Horn.
The vernissage was open to the public, and we celebrated it as a farewell party—with live drawing and a spectacular closing ceremony.
One of the great perks of the new location:
We spent so many hours together at breakfast, lunch, and dinner—constantly switching table partners and chatting with almost everyone.
One morning, I found myself talking about workout routines with none other than Sebastian Krüger!
Can you imagine? Talking about your workout routine with Sebastian Krüger! What a moment!
We truly had such a great time, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Even the hotel managers were blown away by the love and energy we brought to their “home.”
They want us back.
We want to come back.
We will come back.
Save the Date: February 13–19, 2026
Registration opens on May 19, 2025