Visual Storytelling Scholarship: advance your artistic journey

Are you passionate about telling stories through images, but unsure how to take the next step? The Berlin Drawing Room Visual Storytelling Scholarship offers one artist the chance to dive deeply into the art of comics, illustration, and narrative drawing—completely free of charge. This scholarship invites emerging and independent artists alike to develop their visual voice through a series of online workshops led by acclaimed comic artist and writer Ali Fitzgerald. Rooted in the belief that access to art education should not depend on financial means, this initiative aims to open doors for talented artists who might otherwise be excluded. It is an opportunity to grow your skills, refine your storytelling, and connect with a vibrant creative community, no matter where you are.

Application schedule

Application deadline: Thursday the 18th of December, 23:59 (GMT+1)
Scholarship winner announcement: Monday the 12th of January

What Does the Scholarship Include?

The scholarship gives free access to the full online Visual Storytelling workshop series over the course of three workshop modules. Participants learn about visual storytelling through comics, storyboards, illustrations and graphic novel.

Visual Storytelling Workshop: Jan 26–Mar 2, 2026. Mondays 6-8 PM CET
- Learn how to craft short graphic stories to uncover the building blocks of visual communication.
Developing Comic Characters: Apr 13 – May 18, 2026. Mondays 6-8 PM CET
- Delve into character creation and learn how to make compelling visual characters.
Writing and Illustrating a Graphic Novel: June 1 – July 20, 2026. Mondays 6-8 PM CET
- Learn how to craft long-form and well-paced stories.

All classes take place online and video recordings are provided. Find details on the courses with Ali Fitzgerald here.

Who is the scholarship for?

Motivated artists who are already exploring visual storytelling and are ready to take their work to the next level are encouraged to apply!

You are already working on one or more personal projects in the field of visual storytelling (such as comics, illustration, or graphic narratives).
You are eager to develop these projects further and see this workshop series as a way to advance your artistic practice.
You have been actively practicing drawing for at least one year.

What is expected from the scholarship winner

On the 18th of December 2025 the applications will be closed and processed and on the 12th of January 2026, the winner will be announced.

As the winner, you will be asked to share your progress by posting on Instagram at least twice per workshop module, in collaboration with Berlin Drawing Room. We would love to share your creative journey with our audience. After the workshop series has ended, we will organize a follow-up interview with you to reflect on your experience as the scholarship recipient.