The call for scholarship applications for the School of Art and School of Liberal Arts of the Siena Art Institute is open!
The Siena Art Institute, in collaboration with Siena School for Liberal Arts, will award 4 full tuition scholarships for the Fall 2026 semester (September 14 – December 11 2026).
The call is open to students and recent graduates with a background including, but not limited to, the following fields:
Visual Arts – Writing – Curatorial Studies – Museum Studies – Art History – Sustainability – Italian Studies – Agricultural Studies – Anthropology – Political & Social Sciences – Philosophy – Economy – Literature – Peace Studies.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a call for scholarship students, and not for resident artists. Are you a professional artist or sustainability expert interested in a residency in Siena? Click here
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 20, 2026, 11:59 a.m. (CET)
WHAT WE OFFER
- Tuition for classes taken from the Siena Art Institute Fall 2026 semester program;
- Shared studio space of around 11mq overall at the Siena Art Institute, available from 9.30 A.M. to 7.30 P.M. Studios can’t be accessed out of opening hours and without staff supervision;
- Italian language course (offered at intro and intermediate levels);
- Interdisciplinary “Art & Society in Siena” course;
- One additional course to be chosen among the catalogue of active courses for the Fall 2026 semester;
- Mentorship by professional artists and educators;
- Participation in 2 public events to showcase works in progress and to present your research to the public;
- Participation in an international, multilingual, multicultural environment hosting art students and artists from around the world.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for 4 young future artists, academics, educators and other professionals with the following traits:
- Are currently enrolled in University-level courses or are recent graduates (graduated no earlier than December 2025);
- Have a good understanding and command of the English language, as most classes and activities at the Siena Art Institute will be led in English;
- Are interested in learning Italian to more directly engage in the local community;
- Are able to study and work in a multilingual, multicultural environment where collaboration with people from all backgrounds and nationalities is encouraged.
PLEASE NOTE: Since in-person experiential learning is of the utmost importance for our coursework, attendance in all classes and activities is mandatory. We reserve the right to cancel the scholarship of any student who falls beneath a grade of C in any course or misses more than 10% of classes, barring serious medical reasons documented through an accredited Italian-based doctor’s note.
Preferred candidates have:
- A portfolio/CV/motivation letter showing a deep interest in cultural and societal issues such as trans-cultural communication, environmental sustainability and/or community engagement;
- An interest in Italian culture and language.
If you are in doubt about being eligible, please enquire by writing an email to studyabroad@sienaart.org.
SEMESTER SCHEDULE
Arrival: September 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m. in Siena.
Departure: December 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m from Siena.
Look at the whole Semester Program at this link (updated in real time). You may expect around 14 to 20 hours of classes and project work each week.
The semester is 89 days long. Contact your national Italian embassy or consulate for information about specific Visa requirements and procedures. Depending on your country of residence, previous trips in the Schengen Area in the past 180 days may count towards the total of days you are allowed to stay in Italy. In this case, please immediately advise our study abroad coordinator.
Please note that student Visas don’t usually allow for independent travel in the Schengen Area before or after the duration of the program. Inquire with your national Italian embassy or consulate before finalising any travel arrangements.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 20, 2026, 11:59 a.m. (CET)
To apply, please fill out the following form in all its parts. Note that you will be requested to provide materials such as a portfolio, links to your previous work and CV.
AI policy: candidates are invited to not use generative AI to produce entire sections of this application, as we want you to express yourself in a genuine and personal way.
The selection of participants will be at the sole discretion of the project selection board. The Siena Art Institute reserves the right to require additional information or documentation from candidates and to not select anyone should candidates be deemed unsuitable. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to be interviewed.
For more information or to signal form malfunctions, please contact studyabroad@sienaart.org.
