In short
The Comic Art Museum, a true temple dedicated to comic strip art, is also an undisputed masterpiece of the Art Nouveau.
The marriage of the 9th Art and Art Nouveau
Located in the heart of Brussels, in a majestic Art Nouveau building, created by Victor Horta in 1906, the Comic Art Museum opened its doors to the public on October 6th 1989. In no time this impressive museum became one of the main attractions of Brussels. Every year more than 200.000 visitors come here to explore 4.200 m² of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Housed in one of the oldest districts of Brussels, just a few steps away from Grand’Place and the Royal district, the Comic Art Museum seduces in many ways. Come and enjoy the magnificent architecture as well as the communicative pleasure of comic strips.
The Comic Art Museum collects and preserves anything that deals with European comics, from its prestigious beginnings to its latest developments.
Temporary and permanent exhibitions have transformed this Art Nouveau gem into a living and attractive temple. It is a dynamic and exciting place where everything is done to promote the Ninth Art (associated with the creation of the Brussels Comic Strip Route, the issue of Comic Strip stamps, etc...). It is also a cultural ambassador for Belgium, its regions and communities, a reference in the world of comics as well as a unique documentation center. The Comic Art Museum also produces, for many partners, conferences, books, creative workshops and counciling.
Mission statement
The non-profit organization “Belgian Comic Strip Center” was created in 1984. It is a private initiative, composed of French-speaking and Dutch-speaking members. Half of the members originate from the comic strips world or from professional associations of comic strip artists. The Belgian Comic Strip Center’s presidents have been, in chronological order, Bob De Moor (1984-1992), Jean Van Hamme (1992-2000), Guy Dessicy (2000-2012), and then Ferry Van Vosselen. Jean-Pierre Vanden Branden is its vice-president. The Belgian Comic Strip Center's aims are twofold: to promote the comic strip as a valuable cultural medium and to maintain the architectural masterpiece which it is housed in.
The kingdom of comics
With more than 700 comic strip authors, Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world! It is here that the comic strip has grown from a popular medium into an art in its own right. Nowhere else comics are so strongly rooted in reality and in people's imagination.
If you come to visit the Comic Art Museum, you will witness the unusual marriage of the Ninth Art and Art Nouveau, two artistic forms of expression which have always been particularly cherished in Brussels.
