Center for Cartoon Studies
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The Center for Cartoon Studies is a school located in White River Junction, Vermont, and offers both one and two-year programs focused on sequential art. It was founded by cartoonist James Sturm and Michelle Ollie in 2004, with its first classes offered in the Fall of 2005. The inaugural class is of 20 students and the school's eventual capacity is planned to be around 40 students.
The school intends to educate students to be proficient in all aspects of graphic design and production, including self-publication and promotion. This is a notable step away from the specialized production model of mainstream comics companies such as Marvel Comics and DC Comics, wherein writing, pencilwork, inking, coloring, and lettering are most often handled by separate individuals. This inclination is perhaps in part due to many of the faculty's (as well as significant donor Peter Laird's) experience with alternative comics. Although it does not offer courses in animation, animation and cartooning require many similar skills supported by CCS's curriculum.
Recently a member of the innagural class, Alexis Frederick Frost, was awarded a Xeric grant for his graphic novella "La Primavera".
In addition to Sturm, permanent and visiting faculty include industry notables such as Alison Bechdel, Steve Bissette, Ed Brubaker, Ivan Brunetti, James Kochalka, Scott McCloud, Seth, Art Spiegelman, Craig Thompson, and Chris Ware.
