With over 700 comic strip authors, Belgium has more per square kilometre than any other country in the world. How did so many authors emerge from such a small place? It may be something in the water, but it could also be because Belgium has a wide choice of schools offering courses in comic book arts.
The Ecole de la Cambre in Brussels offers a bachelor's degree in comic strip design with a programme designed to develop the technical and artistic skills need to create compelling comic books and graphic novels. Students learn how to design characters and storyboard narratives, and create sequential art. In addition to technical skills, the programme also emphasises critical thinking and interdisciplinary studies, with students studying subjects such as art history, philosophy, and literature.
The Institut Saint-Luc with campuses in Brussels, Mons and Tournai offers a bachelor's degree in comics and illustration, with a programme aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the comic book industry, covering technical skills, artistic abilities, and entrepreneurship. Students can also specialise areas like storyboarding, illustration, or animation.
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The Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels is known primarily for its fine arts, the school was founded in 1711 and is one of the oldest in Europe. Among its courses is a four-year programme in comic book art, with a curriculum based on drawing, storytelling, and character development. The school also offers courses in related visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, and graphic design, allowing students to explore a range of creative disciplines and develop a well-rounded artistic perspective.
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Instituut Sint Lukas has campuses in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven, with its comic arts programme teaching students how to develop engaging and dynamic characters, create complex and layered plots, and write dialogue that is both realistic and compelling. They also learn how to use visual storytelling techniques to enhance their stories and create an immersive reading experience for their audience.
Instituut Sint Lukas
In addition to undergraduate programs, La Cambre offers a master's degree in comics and graphic novels, while Saint-Luc offers a master's in digital comics, which focuses on the use of technology in creating comic books and graphic novels.
Belgium is also home to several small academies and workshops. Atelier BD, a programme of the Academy of Fine Arts of Watermael-Boitsfort, is one, providing training in comic book art and illustration to students of all levels, from beginners to professionals, as well as workshops on techniques and styles, such as manga and graphic novels.
