Undergraduate Study
Abroad Program

Description

The Siena Art Institute’s Undergraduate Program is designed for students who are focusing on their artistic development, and are looking for a new setting to pursue their art in a study-abroad experience. The program welcomes artists from all disciplines (painting, photography, drawing, video, ceramics, silversmithing, creative writing and more) who are interested in the intersection of art and civic life, and who wish to explore how our artistic projects can lead to a deeper understanding of the cultures in which we find ourselves. Our undergraduate students are able to spend one or two semesters at the Siena Art Institute honing their skills, exploring their artistic interests, and developing their artistic portfolios. 

Our program is intentionally small, allowing students to receive a great deal of individual attention from our faculty to assist in your ongoing portfolio development.  Our small classes allow close collaboration between students and faculty.  The Siena Art Institute works in close contact with our partner programs such as the Siena School for Liberal Arts, Mason Perkins Deafness Fund, and diverse summer symposia, granting our students unparalleled access to a variety of cultural resources and activities. 

We encourage our program participants to grow and learn during their time here through a wide range of exciting and innovative courses, as well as community-based art projects, internship opportunities, and cultural experiences. 

Our Undergraduate Program is designed for students who are pursuing a BFA or BA in Art at their home institution.  Undergraduate Students may choose to study at the Siena Art Institute for one or two semesters.  

There is no Italian language prerequisite for applicants, and all courses are taught in English.  However, all students are required to enroll in our Italian Language and Culture course (at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced level), to facilitate their interactions within the Sienese community and to establish a dialogue with the environment that welcomes them.

The Siena Art Institute students must be fluent in English, since all art classes (except for Italian Language and Culture) are taught in English.  Courses in English as a Second Language are available for non-native English speakers, but all applicants must have at least intermediate-level ability in written and spoken English.  

In addition to the Siena Art Institute’s course offerings, students are able to take classes through  our sister program, the Siena School for Liberal Arts, which offers a variety of rigorous courses in the humanities and social sciences.  Additional course offerings in the humanities and sciences are also offered through the University of Siena, where our students with sufficient Italian language skills may enroll.  The Siena Art Institute also offers students internship opportunities with local artists, museums, galleries, and cultural associations.  Please see the course listings on the right for more details.

While you may at first consider yourself an outsider in Siena, your artistic responses to your surroundings can become active and meaningful contributions to the Sienese community, of which you will become a part.  Participating in the Siena Art Institute means absorbing all that Italy has to offer and giving back to our city as you become a contributing part of it.

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