Academie des Beaux-Arts sculpture workshops

The sculpture workshops of the Academie des Beaux-Arts are the open-air studios on the campus along Avenue de la Liberation in Gombe, Kinshasa. The academy was founded in 1943 by Belgian missionary Brother Marc Stanislas as the Ecole Saint-Luc, renamed in 1957, and has become one of the most influential art schools in Central Africa. On weekday mornings during the academic year, students carve wood and stone and paint in the shaded outdoor workshops, and visitors can watch the work in progress and talk with the artists. The campus is leafy and dotted with finished pieces by students and staff, and work is often sold directly by the artists, so visitors can buy original sculptures and paintings without a middleman. Entry to the grounds is free, though a tip of a few US dollars or a few thousand Congolese francs is customary if a student shows visitors around. The campus is open roughly 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, but these are campus hours rather than posted visitor hours, so activity is limited at weekends and during holidays. A typical visit lasts 45 to 90 minutes, enough to walk the paths, watch carving and ask about techniques and materials. Prices are negotiable, and visitors should agree on a price before accepting a piece and carry small notes in US dollars or Congolese francs. Larger sculptures may be heavy, and shipping or carrying them home should be planned before buying, so small carvings and paintings are easier choices. The best time is a weekday morning, when students are at work and the light is soft, and visitors should ask before photographing students or their pieces. The academy is about ten minutes by Yango or hotel car from central Gombe and can be combined with the nearby Cathedrale Notre-Dame du Congo on the same avenue. The telephone number listed for the academy is +243 898 920 686.