Superior Institute of Fine Arts of Besancon

ISBA – Superior Institute of Fine Arts of Besançon/Franche-Comté is the only superior school of fine arts in Franche-Comté. Heir of a long history dating back to the 18th century with the Royal Academy of the Arts set up in the centre of the city. This lasted till the setting of the school in La Bouloie (headquarters of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Franche-Comté) in 1972 in the building designed by the Catalan architect Josep Lluis Sert, who also created the buildings of the MAEGHT Foundation. This building is a architectural heritage site of 20th century. Still set up on this site, the institute continues its developpement within the network of French artistic higher education institutions. Our school has the advantage of being settled in premises meant to be used as an art school. The surface area is about 7 000 m² divided in technical workshops, personnal studios, maintenance workshops, classrooms, library, conference room, galeries and exhibition spaces, artist residency and administrative space. Each year of study is awarded with a room or workshop for classes or personnal work. The following technical workshops are at the disposal of every student: drawing, painting, engraving, silk-screen printing, typography, volume, photo lab, video studio, sound studio, computer graphics, woodwork, metalwork. All these are under the authority of qualified assistants and technicians who help the students with their class works, their own projects, their imposed exercises and the preparation of assessments and diplomas.