Comic Strip Center

Comic Strip Center The Comic Strip Center is a museum in Brussels dedicated to the art, history, and cultural impact of comics and bande dessinée. It presents exhibitions that connect creators, characters, publishers, and movements from across Europe, North America, and beyond, situating them within the urban and artistic fabric of Brussels and linking to broader currents such as Franco-Belgian bande dessinée, American comic books, and Japanese manga. The institution has become a node for collaborations with publishers, archives, and cultural organizations, hosting retrospectives, themed displays, and educational initiatives that engage visitors with the practices of drawing, storytelling, and sequential art.

History

The museum opened in 1989 following initiatives tied to renewed interest in Hergé, Franquin (André Franquin), and the resurgence of public programming around figures like Tintin and Spirou. Its foundation occurred amidst cultural efforts associated with Belgium's promotion of heritage for landmarks such as Grand-Place, Brussels and during decades when institutions like Centre Georges Pompidou and Museum of Modern Art influenced museum practices. The center's early curators collaborated with publishers such as Casterman, Dupuis, Le Lombard, and Dargaud to assemble original art, manuscripts, and archival materials from creators including Peyo, Morris (Maurice De Bevere), and Willy Vandersteen. Over time, partnerships expanded to encompass international estates and archives related to Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Osamu Tezuka, and Moebius (Jean Giraud), reflecting transnational dialogues between European bande dessinée, American comics, and Japanese manga. The museum's programming adapted through periods marked by debates around cultural recognition of comics, echoing discussions in bodies like UNESCO and during festivals such as Angoulême International Comics Festival and Lucca Comics & Games.

Architecture and Exhibits

Housed in a restored Art Nouveau building originally designed by Victor Horta, the museum occupies a site adjacent to Brussels landmarks such as Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. The renovation drew comparisons with other adaptive reuse projects like Musée Horta and restorations of Maison Autrique. The interior design blends conservation of historic features with exhibition strategies informed by practices at Victoria and Albert Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and Louvre Museum, enabling display cases, interactive stations, and original plates to coexist with multimedia installations referencing creators from Hergé to Stan Lee to Rumiko Takahashi. Permanent galleries showcase plate-by-plate layouts, penciled strips, inked boards, and color guides from series such as The Adventures of Tintin, Lucky Luke, The Smurfs, and Blueberry (comics). Rotating exhibits have featured monographs on figures including André Franquin, Yves Chaland, Rob-Vel, Alex Raymond, and Tardi, as well as thematic shows examining genre strands like superhero narratives tied to DC Comics and Marvel Comics, manga movements linked to Shōnen Jump, and underground comix associated with Robert Crumb.

Collections and Notable Works

The museum's holdings span original art, manuscripts, correspondence, periodicals, and ephemera from major European and international players. Notable items have included original pages by Hergé, preliminary sketches by Franquin (André Franquin), storyboard drafts by Morris (Maurice De Bevere), and rare archival exchanges involving Georges Remi and contemporaries. Collections feature serial publications from houses like Dupuis and Casterman, rarities tied to early strip pioneers such as Winsor McCay and Rodolphe Töpffer, and examples from U.S. innovators like Jack Kirby and Will Eisner. The center also maintains special dossiers on influential movements and creators including Moebius (Jean Giraud), Enki Bilal, Hugo Pratt, Milton Caniff, and Hergé's Studios, along with materials documenting festivals and awards like Angoulême International Comics Festival prizes and the Eisner Awards. Collaborative loans have brought items from institutions such as Royal Library of Belgium and private collections associated with estates of Peyo and Franquin (André Franquin).

Educational Programs and Events

Programming targets schools, families, and scholars through workshops, masterclasses, and residencies. Partnerships with educational institutions include exchanges modeled after university collaborations seen at Sorbonne University, University of Antwerp, and KU Leuven. Workshops have featured guest artists and scholars such as Yslaire, Christophe Blain, Brecht Evens, and visiting international practitioners from Manga artists linked to Kodansha and Shueisha. Public events mirror festival formats exemplified by Angoulême International Comics Festival and Lucca Comics & Games, offering panel discussions with editors from Dupuis and Le Lombard, lectures on conservation with colleagues from British Library conservation teams, and hands-on lab sessions inspired by pedagogies at Cooper Union and Rhode Island School of Design. The center runs outreach programs that coordinate with municipal cultural offices and participates in citywide cultural nights such as events organized by Brussels-City authorities.

Visitor Information

Located in central Brussels, the museum is accessible via transport hubs serving Brussels-Central railway station and De Brouckère metro station. Facilities include multilingual signage and audio guides referencing creators like Hergé, Franquin (André Franquin), and Peyo, and a museum shop stocked with publications from Casterman, Dupuis, and Le Lombard. Opening hours, ticketing, guided tour availability, and temporary exhibition schedules are typically coordinated with civic events such as Brussels Summer Festival and cultural seasons aligned with neighboring institutions like Belgian Comic Strip Center neighbors (see onsite listings). The site participates in city museum passes and occasionally offers combined tickets with museums including Musée Magritte Museum and Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

Category:Museums in Brussels