Program Description

Santa Reparata International School of Art is the host institution for UW-Madison students interested in studying and creating art in stunning Florence, Italy. This four-week summer program is designed for students who wish to be immersed in the visual art and culture of Florence as a means of generating ideas for their own creative work or scholarship.

With a population of over 500,000, Florence has been a major center for the arts, literature, and scholarship since the middle ages and Renaissance, offering students a chance to study firsthand some of the world's greatest paintings, sculpture, and architecture. Students will use the city that was home to Donatello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo as a source of inspiration for developing their own artistic voice.

Academics

Santa Reparata International School of Art is an independent non-profit school that provides academic-year and semester studio art programs, short workshops, and summer classes. The school offers American University-level undergraduate courses in a variety of areas of study, such as photography, drawing, digital printmaking, fashion design, jewelry, weaving, art history, and Italian language. The curricula and class schedules are based on the American University model and are taught in English, however, the school's students come from many countries and cultural backgrounds.

UW-Madison students participate in a studio course during the summer session hosted by Santa Reparata International School of Art. The course is taught in English and past topics have included painting and printmaking, with topics varying each year. Students earn three UW-Madison credits in Art 448: Special Topics—Creating Art in Florence upon successful completion of the studio course. This course fulfills the Art Department requirement of an undergraduate or graduate studio elective.

Housing

Housing is included in the program fee. Students live in double occupancy rooms in shared apartments, and all rooms are fully furnished. Students have access to experienced local staff, computer facilities, and a study area.

Excursions and Activities

An integral part of the programs at Santa Reparata International School of Art are the walking tours, field trips, and visits to local museums, as well as optional field trips to destinations in Italy. Many of these events are integrated with individual classes, where instructors will coordinate trips to see special exhibits or museums that are relevant to their course curriculum. The school also keeps an up-to-date listing of the exhibitions, musical, theater, and dance events taking place in Florence.