Program Overview

Arts of Italy Program

The Arts of Italy program is an intensive studio course that takes place in central and northern Italy. This class explores Italian art and culture, focusing on the arts and architecture in Florence, Tuscany, and Venice. Students will discover the art and architecture from ancient through early modernity to contemporary.

Course Details

• The program is a Faculty-led Global Learning Program.
• Instructional dates: September 25, 2024 - December 13, 2024.
• Travel dates: October 18, 2024 - November 14, 2024.
• Credits: ART 394, ART 437, ART 337.
• Total Credits: 15.
• Prerequisites: Art 230 and 280, and Instructor Permission.

Program Description

In this class, students will engage in visual exploration and creative problem-solving through a variety of media, tools, and techniques. Readings, presentations, and studio-based projects reflect on visits to sites, exhibitions, museums, and galleries. The home base in Italy is Florence, the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. Florence lies on the river Arno and is known for its art historical and architectural importance.

Program Highlights

• Explore all that Florence has to offer, including Medieval and Renaissance masterworks from Giotto to Botticelli.
• Climb the stairs to the top of the Duomo, see Michelangelo's David, visit a 13th Century Florentine palace home, and visit the Uffizi Museum.
• Travel to several destinations, including day trips to the Etruscan city of Orvieto and Prato, where students will see the futuristic Contemporary Arts Center Luigi Pecci.
• Longer excursions will be to the Monastery of Sant'Anna in Camprena and Venice.
• Spend four nights at Sant'Anna, a 15th Century former Benedictine Monastery, and visit historic Tuscan hilltop towns, including Pienza and Montalcino.
• Spend four nights in Venice, the floating city of canals, and visit St Mark's cathedral, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, and the Punta Della Dogana Museum.

Expectations of Participants

• This course requires a lot of walking in all types of weather, approximately 2-3 hours of walking per day.
• Activities include visits to museums and cultural sites.
• Students must be able to walk for hours at a time, climb stairs, and stand for prolonged periods.
• Access to electricity and refrigeration for the duration of the program.
• Students must work with the WWU Disability Access Center for service eligibility.

Scholarships

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Faculty

• Cara Jaye, Professor of Art.
• Sasha Petrenko, Assistant Professor of Sculpture.

Health and Safety

• Students are strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to maximize the safety of the student cohort.
• Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines remains the most important step to protect yourself and your community.

Program Policies

• Participants are expected to abide by all attendance policies of the program, including those for classes and excursions.
• Personal travel must be outside of the course dates and not conflict with coursework or excursion schedules.
• Travel plans should be vetted by faculty beforehand to ensure personal plans do not interfere with meeting the learning objectives of the course.