Comic Book UK is thrilled to announce a brand-new strategic partnership with Escape Studios – one of the UK’s leading schools for creative industries professional talent.
The partnership will see Comic Book UK collaborate with Escape on a range of initiatives to nurture new generations of industry-ready comics professionals – both creative talent and industry leaders.
To launch the new partnership, Comic Book UK is helping Escape Studios to develop a new undergraduate programme in Comics and Visual Storytelling. Once up and running, the degree will provide domestic and global comics publishers with a pipeline of graduate talent that has experienced industry-informed training and development. This will play a major part in achieving our ambition to grow the UK comic industry – in terms of both publishing and creative services.
Thanks to Comic Book UK, this innovative degree is being developed in collaboration with leading industry professionals, including editors of some of the UK’s best-known comics and artists that have achieved huge global success.
Their expertise will ensure the curriculum is sharply focused on equipping students with the skills, insights, and connections needed to break into and build successful careers in comics.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Escape Studios to help build the next generation of UK comic talent” said Mark Fuller, Chief Executive of Comic Book UK. “This partnership will help ensure that more people can build successful careers in comics, something that’s vital to making sure that our industry realises its full potential as part of the UK’s creative industries.”
Escape Studios is known for its commitment to graduate outcomes and employability – with 90% of undergraduate graduates in employment or further study just 15 months after finishing their course (Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, HESA). That’s why this partnership is such a perfect fit.
“We’re passionate about helping students turn their creative dreams into real careers,” said Simon Fenton, Deputy Principal of Escape Studios. “Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a Comic Book Artist, Graphic Novelist, or Visual Storyteller, we’re creating a degree that will give you the skills, industry connections, and confidence to make it happen. As a lifelong comic fan, I’m thrilled to be developing Escape Studios’ first comics degree — and to be working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry.”
This partnership with Escape Studios is just the beginning of Comic Book UK’s plans to support new generations of UK comic industry professionals. Over the coming months we will be announcing further partnerships with leading UK universities and details of a UK-wide programme to help aspiring comic industry professionals to build sustainable careers.
