BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) – The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is launching a new course this fall that the school says will “meet the demands of Boston’s burgeoning comic arts scene.”

“Boston is a comics’ town, we have like 12 different comic book stores here. As far as I’m concerned everybody has a story to tell.” Professor Heide Solbrig told WBZ’s Carl Stevens.

Professor Solbrig will be teaching the course, along with LJ Baptiste, art educator, cartoonist, and member of the Boston-based group ‘Comics in Color.’

The “Visual Storytelling and Comic Arts Certificate Program” starts in September and is open to all students, even those who may have no prior drawing or storytelling experience. What’s more, the course is fully online and can be completed in less than a year.

“Not only is the popularity of graphic novels and memoirs growing, but there is also an increased demand for visual storytelling in a range of industries such as film, web design, video games and advertising,” said Dr. Mary Grant, President of MassArt. “This art form connects with people of all backgrounds and I appreciate that everyone is encouraged to join this program. We all have valuable stories to tell and as the Commonwealth’s art and design college, we are proud to provide an accessible opportunity for students to learn this skill.”

The deadline to register is August 11th.

WBZ’s Carl Stevens reports

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