The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, America's first and premier school of fine art, presents PAFA Italy:  a two-week, pre-college summer abroad program designed to challenge young artists to hone their drawing and painting skills amidst a vibrant cultural landscape.

• Explore art making and art history in the birthplace of the Renaissance 
• Draw and paint from the sculpture, monuments and landscapes of antiquity that have inspired centuries of artists
• Benefit from PAFA’s traditional yet progressive instruction
• Make new friends that will last a lifetime
• Earn three college credits

CURRICULUM
PAFA’s two-week intensive course exposes students to the artistic epicenter that is Italy, amid sunny Tuscan hillsides, classic gardens, and tiny winding medieval streets.  In the tradition of artists on a Grand Tour, students will keep a working sketchbook and complete extended pieces, working both independently and under the guidance of PAFA faculty who challenge them to them to see the world anew through direct observation.  Open-air drawing and painting in the beautiful Tuscan countryside is supplemented by day trips to surrounding cultural centers, as students refine their skills with pencil, pastel, watercolor, and gouache. 

ACCOMMODATIONS
Set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, the program is housed at le Puscine, an agriturismo farm located just outside the small village of Castel del Piano.  The sleeping quarters consist of ancient stone buildings that have been refurbished into modern, apartment-style rooms with twin beds, kitchenettes, and bathrooms.  The surrounding grounds include BBQ pits, a bowling green, laundry facilities, and refreshing swimming pool. 

Meals are served at La’Olivastra, a local organic restaurant located slightly down the hill.  Students eat breakfast and dinner daily, served on the restaurant’s jasmine covered porch. On most days, lunches are pre-packed and eaten while on the go.

REGION AND EXCURSIONS
The program explores the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, all located in the heart of Italy.  Rolling hills and tiny medieval hilltop towns, provide a pristine environment to work.  Students will take several daytrips to discover cultural centers as well as acquire a taste of Italy “off the beaten path,” and may include:

• Florence - A major city for the arts, Florence is definitely a must see for art students studying in Italy.  Visits to the Uffizi Gallery, Boboli Gardens and Michelangelo’s David are part of a daylong trip to the birthplace of the Renaissance. 

• Siena - Students check out works by Bernini, Michelangelo and Donatello in Siena Cathedral and then spend the afternoon drawing in the famous Piazza del Campo.

• Bomarzo - In a visit to the magical gardens at Bomarzo, students discover the 16th century sculptures of mermaids, giants, and unicorns left behind in memory of a lost love. 

SCHEDULE
PAFA Italy runs July 16 - 31, 2012.  Students meet at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, on July 16 for Orientation before departing as a group to Italy.

HOW TO APPLY & FURTHER INFORMATION
Application information can be found at www.pafa.edu/Italy. Students are required to submit a completed application, application fee, letter of recommendation, high school transcript, personal statement, and a portfolio of 5-10 images. Qualified applicants will be asked to complete a short telephone interview.

TUITION & FEES
$4900 includes tuition, housing at le Puscine, breakfast and dinner daily, museum admission and local transportation, and round-trip airfare from PAFA to Italy.  Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements to PAFA for Orientation, as well as daily lunches and incidentals.  A non-refundable $50 application fee is required.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
There is no financial assistance available for the PAFA Italy program.  A limited number of partial scholarships may be awarded based on artistic merit.