Wallimage and Média-Participations (France), the parent company of the publisher Dupuis, have announced the creation in Marcinelle of "R/O", a site for technology and audiovisual creation which aims to be a melting pot for the emergence "of the heroes and fictional universe of the future".
The comic strip school "from Marcinelle", has seen the creation of characters which have become emblematic and timeless, such as "The Smurfs", "Lucky Luke", "Spirou" and "Gaston", many of which are famous around the world. Therefore, it was only natural that this site was chosen for the project.
"R/O" (pronounced "héros") is the result of a private/public partnership. This project is based on three pillars: "R/O Institute", "R/O Lab" and the company "Belgian Heroes SA".
The first will be a new technologies training institute devoted to fiction creators. "R/O Institute" will offer artistic, theoretical, technological and practical training for about fifteen talented people who will be selected every year via an international call for projects. The aim is to respond to technological changes which are revolutionising many areas of society and the economy, especially in the world of audiovisual creation.
"R/O Lab" will also offer an innovative laboratory. It will be equipped with all the latest technology in the field of audiovisual creation, such as a 3D printer.
Finally, "Belgian Heroes SA" will head the entire structure by financing the institute and the laboratory and managing the intellectual property of the new creations. The aim of this company is to be completely independent financially within five years.
Wallonia will provide this project with €2 million of funding to which will be added €1.7 million for research.
A first call for projects will be launched at the latest by 30 April 2016 with a view to a selection at the end of September following a summer school during which about thirty pre-selected projects will be analysed. The first year, with the 15 projects selected, will start in October.