In 2010, the cities of Angoulême and Poitiers merged their schools of art to form the Ecole européenne supérieure de l’image, an institution of regional scale large enough to make the excellence of its programs felt within European art education circles and beyond. Receiving support from the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Poitou-Charentes region and the cities of Angoulême and Poitiers, EESI is a public institution offering nationally recognized degrees. It offers several programs at the master’s level. Effective in 2013, the postgraduate program in “Document and contemporary art” becomes a doctoral-level degree program.
Historically, the two institutions that compose EESI have been distinguished by their respective specializations (comic art at Angoulême and digital arts at Poitiers), which have now been brought together in dialogue on the broader ground of art. The disciplines are taught in an expanded spirit that multiplies cross-connections and encourages mutual enrichment. EESI’s policy of attracting external visitors and supporting international relations attest to its commitment to breaking down walls and cultivating a broad perspective in thinking about and teaching art. EESI takes pride in having produced renowned practitioners of comic art and other specialties. The faculty strives to encourage the emergence of a youthful art scene that critically explores traditional and digital forms of writing, imaging, publishing, and exhibition.