Are You a Local / a Visitor?
From its foundation the Siena Art Institute has wished to be a resource for the local community. For this reason we offer programmes and projects for different ages and different communities ranging in content from fine arts to sustainability.
EVENTS, EXPERIENCES AND GUIDED VISITS
The Siena Art Institute offers a series of events and experiences to people who wish to come find us in Siena!
If you are interested in art, you are also invited to explore our Winter and Spring exhibitions. During those special days the indoor and outdoor areas of our headquarters “Il Punto | The Point” become exhibition spaces for the artwork of international young artists from all over the world. We also often offer Open Studio events held by our resident artists and writers. Sign up for our newsletter here or follow us on our social media if you want us to update you!
Talking about our spaces: do you know that we recently inaugurated a new sustainable design space accessible to blind, deafblind and signing people just behind the Medieval walls of Siena? This lovely little grove is called The Hidden Garden – Il Giardino Nascosto and we are always happy to offer short guided visits (and a coffee!) to small groups of up to 10 visitors and locals alike. Currently we are able to offer guided visits in Italian, English, Greek, Polish and Spanish. Please write to places@sienaart.org to agree on a time!
City Arts
learn a new skill, explore your creativity
Enrollments
To enroll, please write to office@sienaart.org. You will receive an email with all the necessary information regarding costs, materials, and other important details.
Please note that course availability varies from semester to semester. Courses are activated with a minimum number of enrolled participants. After enrollment confirmation is sent by the Siena Art Institute’s office, the participant is not contacted again before the start of the course unless scheduling changes or other issues arise.
Ceramics
Discover your creativity and explore your manual skills with clay. Have fun making artistic creations by experimenting with the many different techniques of ceramics, decorating and glazing. Let yourself be inspired by the materials and explore the connections between the contempory world and Siena’s historical traditions. The course offers 2 groups for beginners and advanced learners. For the beginners’ course, no specific prerequisites are needed; just let your imagination guide you to envision an object, either functional or decorative, and shape it using the ‘tool’ most familiar to us: our hands. Each participant will be encouraged to explore the various ways of working with clay, from basic pinching, slab building and coiling, to building more complex pieces, sculpting and working on the wheel. They will learn surface decoration tecniques, and be able to use slips, undergalzes and glazes available.
INSTRUCTOR: Jacqueline Tune
DURATION: 20 hours (10 weekly lessons of 2 hours each, with the option to attend individual sessions)
MATERIALS: provided at each session
LEVELS: open to all
Silversmithing
Discover the art of jewelry-making and enjoy shaping metals and waxes to create unique pieces. Experiment with different techniques, from traditional wire and sheet metal work to wax modeling, and let yourself be inspired by materials to transform an idea into a special piece of jewelry, crafted by your own hands.
With the support of a professional metal sculptor, each participant will learn fundamental tools and techniques of goldsmithing and create a piece of jewelry that reflects their creativity.
- INSTRUCTOR: Maria Laura De Tanti
- DURATION: 20 hours (10 weekly sessions of 2 hours each)
- MATERIALS: The materials fee covers expenses used during the workshop
- LEVEL: Beginners (no minimum level of preparation required)
Creative Writing
In this Creative Writing course, the first weekly session centers on group discussions of key writing concepts, supported by literary examples. Students complete related writing assignments as homework. In the second session, these assignments are shared, critiqued, and discussed in a workshop format, creating a supportive environment for feedback. Aimed at enhancing all forms of writing, the course welcomes both aspiring and non-writers, fostering a collaborative space for growth and exploration in writing.
- INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Shapiro
- DURATION: 8 hours (4 weekly lessons of 2 hours each, with the option to attend individual sessions)
- MATERIALS: provided at each session
- LEVELS: open to all
Oil Painting
Explore the art of oil painting and discover traditional techniques through direct observation. This course combines studio practice, live demonstrations, and references to art history, from the masterpieces of the Early Renaissance to Modern Art, to place your work in a broader context.
Through exercises in observation and experimentation, the course guides you in discovering essential tools and materials: brushes, palette, pigments, and mediums. You will delve into chiaroscuro, color theory, and pigment mixing, refining your ability to translate reality onto the canvas.
The course is open to everyone: beginners will learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting from life, while those with prior experience will have the opportunity to develop a personal expressive language through a tailored learning path.
- INSTRUCTOR: Franca Marini
- DURATION: 20 hours (10 weekly lessons of 2 hours each)
- MATERIALS: Not included; each participant provides their own materials
- LEVELS: Beginners (no prior experience required) and Advanced
Watercolor
Painting with watercolor is not just a technique but a new way of observing the world. In this theoretical and practical workshop, you will learn how to mix and apply colors with water, exploring techniques such as glazing, blending, layering, and masking. You will delve into the use of brushes and paper, color theory, and color harmonies, experimenting with painting on both dry and wet paper.
Be inspired by bright skies, delicate flowers, evocative landscapes, and the movement of the sea, transforming each brushstroke into an expression of your emotions.
A creative and engaging experience, open to everyone, to discover the joy of painting and learn to see with new eyes!
- INSTRUCTOR: Maria De Ferrari
- DURATION: 20 hours (10 weekly lessons of 2 hours each)
- MATERIALS: Not included. Each participant provides their own materials as specified by the instructor.
- LEVELS: Beginners and advanced
ORTOculture
sustainability and community initiatives
The green spaces surrounding the Siena Art Institute are the setting for numerous initiatives related to environmental sustainability and the management of the relationship between humans and the environment. Local and international volunteers help make the community garden Ortoaperto, the accessible Giardino Nascosto, and the valley below the SART places of observation, study, and experimentation in Permaculture.
Throughout the year, in harmony with the seasons, the Siena Art Institute offers educational opportunities on the principles and techniques of permaculture. It hosts Italian and international experts in permaculture and environmental sustainability, offering them study residencies and inviting them to give talks and lessons. The Institute also carries out awareness projects with and for the communities of Siena, in collaboration with artists and other cultural professionals.
Since 2024, the Siena Art Institute has been the custodian of the community wood-fired oven created by Deafal Ong. Built entirely by hand using traditional techniques, the oven is available for various events, from community bread baking to supporting cultural events.
POP SART!
The Siena Art Institute offers a variety of creative and educational activities for children (7-12 years old) and teenagers (13-17 years old). Our programs include courses in art, crafts, design, environmental sustainability, and foreign languages, designed to stimulate curiosity and creativity.
We also offer PCTO projects (formerly known as school-to-work programs) in collaboration with High Schools in Siena and the surrounding area, allowing young people to explore the world of work in a dynamic and innovative environment.
Our intensive workshops take place over an afternoon or a weekend, providing a unique opportunity for growth and learning in a multilingual and multicultural setting.
To discover the experiences currently available, click here.