A private, non-profit institution in Montréal offering professional training in humour and humour writing, established in 1988.
The École nationale de l'humour is a private, non-profit (OBNL) educational institution recognized by the Quebec ministry of higher education and supported by several government and cultural bodies. The school describes itself as the only francophone institution of higher education in Canada in the artistic discipline of humour. Its address is 1635 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2X 3K3, Canada.
The school was created in 1988 to provide professional training for new generations of humorists and authors, and welcomed its first 12 students that year. Louise Richer was named the school's director, titled 'Directrice Rouquine Suprême', after a four-day conclave. Originally part of the Groupe Juste pour rire, the school became autonomous in 1993 by creating its own legal entity. The school later announced a move to the Quartier latin, into a building twice as large as its previous premises on rue Sherbrooke.
The school offers two professional training programs, Création humoristique and Écriture humoristique, which were recognized by the Ministry of Education in 1992. A large part of the training is delivered through individualized supervision, aimed at helping students find their own voice. The Observatoire de l'humour, created in 2011, archives, initiates and carries out research on humour.
The school's facilities include a lobby, a café and reception room, classrooms, a meeting room, and a performance hall with a dressing room. The school's 2004 relocation to new premises won the Prix d'excellence of the Ordre des architectes du Québec for its interior design.
Applicants to the humour program are admitted through videos and an interview, while applicants to the writing program are admitted through texts and an interview. Separate admission criteria are provided for international students.
The school received an Olivier exceptionnel award at the Gala les Olivier in 2003. In 2016 Louise Richer received the Ordre du Canada for her contribution as director of the school. The school is a founding member of the Association des écoles supérieures d'art de Montréal, founded in 2002.