In addition to traditional technical and university programs, the region offers other pathways to careers in the visual arts. These programs fall into two distinct categories: public schools of applied arts that award selective state-recognized degrees, and private institutes in Reims that focus on specialized career tracks in film production or post-production.
Charles de Gaulle High School (Chaumont)
- Degree Programs: DN MADe (3 years after high school) / DSAA in Design (5 years after high school)
- Status: Public
- Admission: Parcoursup (DN MADe) and portfolio and interview (DSAA)
Renowned for its graphic arts program, the high school structures its DN MADe program around three specializations:
- DN MADe “Graphic Design, Brand Identity & Publishing”: Design of visual identities and editorial materials (books, magazines, print and digital publications), combining digital creation, typography, workshop techniques (screen printing, engraving, bookbinding), and an introduction to motion design.
- DN MADe “Graphic Design, Wayfinding, and Exhibition Design”: Management of graphic design in public spaces (museums, institutions, cities), integrating wayfinding and exhibition design through still and moving images, 3D modeling, video mapping, and digital cutting.
- DN MADe “Scenographic Spaces: Commercial and Institutional”: Creation of temporary architectural installations and sets (exhibit booths, pop-up stores, storefront displays, animated scenography) focused on spatial storytelling, lighting, sound, and prototyping in the workshop.
- DSAA “Graphic Design and Cultural Mediation” (Bac+5): Open to students who have completed a Bac+3 degree, this program provides training in visual pedagogy and the popularization of cultural and scientific topics. In partnership with museums and other institutions, students develop cultural mediation projects that combine exhibition design, interactive media, and augmented reality.
ESAD, Higher School of Art and Design (Reims)
- Degree Programs: DNA (Bac+3) / DNSEP (Bac+5) and DSAA (Bac+5)
- Status: Public (under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture)
- Admission: Entrance exam for first-year admission (artistic portfolio, practical exams, general knowledge, language, interview) or equivalency committees
After a first year of common preparatory studies, the first cycle (DNA) and the second cycle (DNSEP) are organized into four tracks in which visual and audiovisual arts play a central role:
- Graphic & Digital Design (DNA and DNSEP): A program focused on screens and interactive media (motion design, animated imagery, web design, motion typography, UI/UX, and data visualization).
- Art (DNA and DNSEP): A visual and experimental approach to audiovisual media (video art, experimental film, sound installations, and immersive installations in the studio and control room).
- Object & Space Design (DNA and DNSEP): Work on volume and scenography, incorporating video projections, stage lighting, and immersive installations within the space.
- Design & Culinary Arts (DNSEP, Master’s level only): A program exclusive to Reims that uses video recording, moving images, and staging to document movement and create sensory performances.
Le cycle supérieur DSAA (Bac+5) :
- DSAA in Graphic Design and Cultural Mediation: Open to students who have completed three years of higher education (DN MADe, Bachelor’s degree), this program trains designers who specialize in visual pedagogy and the communication of complex content (science, arts, culture). In collaboration with museums and cultural institutions, students design narrative and educational experiences that combine exhibition design, wayfinding, interactive media, and augmented reality.
ISA, Higher Institute of Audiovisual Arts (Reims Campus)
- Degree Programs: BTS in Audiovisual Professions / Bachelor’s Degrees / Master’s Degrees
- Status: Private
- Format: 100% work-study program
- Admission: Based on application materials and an individual interview (online application / Parcoursup, depending on the program)
Housed in the modern facilities at Quai 12 (with two TV sets, a radio studio, and five editing/mixing booths), ISA offers hands-on technical and managerial training programs:
BTS in Audiovisual Professions:
- Film Production Option: framing, shooting, cinematography, and on-set lighting.
- Editing & Post-Production Option: rough cut, narrative editing, compositing, and color grading.
- Sound Option: on-location sound recording, studio sound recording, sound design, and audio mixing.
- Production Management Option: logistics, budgeting, contracts, scheduling, and copyright.
Les Bachelors
- Bachelor’s Degree in Imaging and Editing: Training for camera operators/editors and video journalists (JRI-M). The program combines editing theory, brand identity, studio filming, mobile journalism (MOJO), and documentary production.
MJM Graphic Design (Reims Campus)
- Degree Programs: RNCP and CSFP-certified degrees (equivalent to 2 to 3 years of post-secondary study)
- Status: Private
- Format: Full-time, work-study, or fully online.
- Admission: Outside the Parcoursup system (online application, admission test, individual interview, and submission of personal work/portfolio)
At its Reims campus, MJM structures its programs around three major creative divisions, including a Digital division focused specifically on audiovisual production and animation:
Digital Field (Animated Images & Post-Production)
- Video Editing / VFX & Directing (2 years – CSFP): Learning techniques for reviewing footage, narrative and rhythmic editing, graphics, audio mixing, and digital color grading (using Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve), supplemented by introductory courses in filmmaking and visual effects (VFX).
- Motion Design (1 year, RNCP certification / Bac+3): An intensive program focused on motion graphics, kinetic typography, 2D vector animation, and compositing (After Effects, Cinema 4D, Illustrator, Photoshop) for advertising, social media, and broadcast.
- 3D Artist (Animation & Computer Graphics): Dedicated to 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and digital animation of objects and environments for audiovisual media and video games.
Complementary Fields (Graphic Design & Visual Design)
The Reims campus also offers programs in graphic and web design: Multimedia Graphic Designer / Graphic Design (3 years, RNCP), Computer Graphics (1 year, CSFP), UI Designer and Web Design (1 year, RNCP), as well as a program in Illustration – Digital Art (3 years, CSFP).
For beginners, a Preparatory Workshop (1 year) provides the opportunity to learn the basics of drawing, desktop publishing, and art history before choosing a specialization.