School of Liberal Arts
Through a unique combination of classroom study, intensive programs, fieldwork, service-learning, workshops & weekend activities, the School of Liberal Arts fosters a hands-on engagement with aspects of Italian life usually inaccessible to the visitor.
As of Fall 2025, the School of Liberal Arts of the Siena Art Institute is organised and managed by the Siena School for Liberal Arts, the Siena Art Institute's sister school.
Required core courses
The Italian language classes allow students to get a good grounding in Italian grammar, syntax and vocabulary, as well as practical opportunities to practice Italian out and about in the city and in class with a plethora of speaking activities. Classes are organized and divided into levels (intro to advanced) to make sure all students have the opportunity to develop their linguistic skills to the maximum. We have no language prerequisite but all students of our semester program are required to participate in our Italian language courses.
The Italian course emphasizes a practical, communicative approach, focusing on active participation and real-life language use. Students engage in interactive tasks, fostering conversation skills and cultural understanding through immersive activities. The aim is to build fluency and confidence in everyday communication.
One of the main objectives of this course is to give students the appropriate and effective linguistic tools to find it easier to communicate in Siena during their stay, enhancing their overall experience.
Faculty: Valeria Indice, Luca Bottone
Elective courses (choose 3)
Art History I: Medieval and Renaissance Art in Siena and Florence
This course surveys Central Italian Art History from the 14th to 16th centuries, focusing on key works and their connections to historical and cultural shifts. It explores the roles of artists, patrons, guilds, and church influences, particularly in Siena and Florence. Students will study masters like Giotto, Brunelleschi, and Botticelli, gaining knowledge and appreciation for visual arts. Based in Siena, the course includes visits to churches and museums, offering firsthand experience with Renaissance masterpieces.
FACULTY: Geraldina Albegiani
No additional cost
Art History II: Iconology & Iconography
This course introduces Italian iconography and iconology, focusing on interpreting artworks from the 13th to 17th centuries. Students explore the symbolic meanings of objects, figures, and events within the cultural context of Renaissance Italy, with an emphasis on Tuscany. It examines key theories by Cesare Ripa, Aby Warburg, Ernst Gombrich, and Erwin Panofsky, focusing on Panofsky’s three-step method. Topics include the symbolic role of nature, medieval bestiaries, religious iconography, Renaissance portraiture, and female artists like Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi, highlighting their shift from passive subjects to active creators, challenging the male gaze.
FACULTY: Geraldina Albegiani
Additional course cost €1500
Italian Literature
Our Italian Literature course is the opportunity to take a deep dive into some of the most important writers in the history of the Italian language. Students in the fall will study the iconic Dante and the ironic Boccaccio, two greats of Italian literature from the Medieval period. While students in the spring semester will study contemporary Italian literature learning about the greats such as Calvino – and many more!
FACULTY: Roberto Fineschi
No additional cost
History and Theory of Museums
This course explores the evolution of museums, from the etymological “house of the muses” to modern institutions. It examines the history of Italian, particularly Tuscan, collecting, focusing on Medici collections and their transition from private studioli to public museums. Students will gain insight into how art has been housed over centuries, shaped by figures preserving invaluable heritage tied to Italian cities. Discussions include the rise of tourism, market-driven exhibition trends, and the balance between ancient and contemporary art in Renaissance settings. The course concludes with reflections on these dynamics in Italy’s unique cultural landscape.
FACULTY: Geraldina Albegiani
Additional course cost €1500
Sustainability in Italy
This course introduces the principles and practices of permaculture, combining theory with hands-on experience in sustainable land management. Students will explore ecological design, regenerative agriculture, and food systems while utilizing the school’s garden and surrounding land. Through workshops, fieldwork, and collaborations with local farmers, students will develop practical skills in soil health, water management, and biodiversity conservation. The program emphasizes building resilient ecosystems and fostering community connections for sustainable living and cultivation practices.
FACULTY: Federico Pulselli, Susana Ljuljanovic, Cristiano Gallinella, Lorenzo Costa, Bernardo Giorgi
Additional course cost €1500
Modern Italian Political Thought
This course explores Italian modern history and political thought, focusing on 19th- and 20th-century developments in economics, culture, and society. Key thinkers like Benedetto Croce, Giovanni Gentile, and Antonio Gramsci are highlighted, along with early figures such as Dante and Machiavelli. Meeting twice weekly, sessions combine discussion of assigned materials with lectures introducing new topics. No prerequisites are required, though familiarity with historical and political studies is recommended. Students gain insight into contemporary Italian political thought and history.
Additional course cost €1500
Political Sciences: Gramsci for today
This course introduces students to Antonio Gramsci’s influential ideas, particularly his Prison Notebooks, which reinterpret Marxism through theories of hegemony, culture, and the role of intellectuals. Going beyond a basic introduction, the course critically examines concepts relevant to today’s societal interpretation and transformation. Utilizing the latest Gramscian research, sessions meet twice weekly, with discussions on assigned readings followed by lectures on new topics. A new critical edition of Gramsci’s works supports the curriculum.
FACULTY: Roberto Fineschi
Additional course cost €1500
Independent Studies
Independent Studies allow students to pursue their own projects and ideas with support that is individually tailored to their needs and interests. They are particularly designed for students with a strong background in artistic practice and a clear understanding of their own work and where they need support. We organize specialized and individual support for students across a wide range of mediums and art forms. It is important to contact the school to discuss the options if this seems like something for you.
Additional course cost €2000
Digital Multimedia
The Digital Multimedia course explores time and narrative through short assignments, a mid-term project, and a final exhibition piece. Classes often begin with screenings of historic and contemporary multimedia works for context and inspiration. Students are encouraged to draw from personal experiences and observations, using digital tools like sound, video, and imagery to explore themes of personal narrative, cultural intersections, and memory.
FACULTY: Irene Lupi
Additional course cost €1500
Photography
The Siena Art Institute’s photography courses emphasize using photography to communicate unique perspectives on the world. Offering instruction for all skill levels, students engage with Siena’s culture, history, and people through various photographic techniques, from digital to pinhole methods. Weekly workshops develop observation, composition, and technical skills, including lighting, darkroom work, and image-making with polaroids and SLR cameras. Students also explore multi-imaging techniques and storytelling, supported by field trips and guest artist sessions for an enriching, immersive experience.
FACULTY: Jacqueline Tune
Additional course cost €1500
Metal Sculpture
The Metal Sculpture Course immerses students in creating original jewelry and sculptures in metal, teaching techniques like hammering, heating, bending, and soldering. Starting with basic projects such as rings, students learn foundational skills before branching into unique designs. They’ll also create wax templates for casting. With an open structure, the course allows for individual creativity and includes materials. Students complete short assignments and two major projects. No prerequisites are required.
FACULTY: Laura De Tanti
Additional course cost €1500
Clay Sculpture
The Clay Sculpture elective offers students a hands-on exploration of ceramics, covering techniques like hand-building, pottery wheel work, glazing, and firing. Open to all experience levels, the course guides students through the creative process from brainstorming to final realization. Projects include vessels, bas-relief, and small sculptures, with opportunities to try plaster mold casting. The open structure supports individual interests, with short assignments and two major projects. All materials are included; no prerequisites required.
FACULTY: Jacqueline Tune
Additional course cost €1500
Introduction to oil Painting
This oil painting course, open to all levels, focuses on traditional techniques in object and figure painting. Through studio work, demonstrations, museum visits and lectures, students learn canvas stretching, ground preparation, brushwork, color mixing, and glazing. Slide lectures on master and contemporary works contextualize oil painting within art history. Observation exercises form the foundation for individual projects inspired by Siena, culminating in a final exhibition.
FACULTY: Franca Marini
No additional cost
Book Art
This course explores the history of book-making, from clay tablets to paper, with a focus on European, Japanese, and Coptic traditions. Students will learn hands-on techniques like folding, sewing, and case binding, using diverse materials such as paper, cloth, leather, and vellum. Throughout the semester, students construct several books, blending historical methods with creative design. The course encourages viewing book-binding as both a craft and an artistic project with boundless possibilities.
FACULTY: Piergiorgio Bertolozzi
Additional course cost €1500
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.
FACULTY: Jeff Shapiro
No additional cost
Drawing
Siena is a dynamic place in which to draw, full of multifaceted physical and social structures. This course capitalizes on this inspiring setting through excursions around the city. Using diverse media and techniques students will expand their ability to perceive and respond to the environment in which they find themselves. In-class exercises, critiques, take-home projects, & sketchbook work will combine to strengthen students’ understanding of drawing’s capacity for visual communication.
FACULTY: Lisa Nonken
No additional cost
Italian Deaf Culture and History
This course explores the History, Culture, and Education of the Italian Deaf community, focusing on its sociological, cultural, and educational aspects. It covers the history of deaf education in Italy, particularly the school founded in 1828 in Siena, and the role of Italian Sign Language (LIS). Guest lecturers from across Italy offer insights into the evolving Deaf community.
FACULTY: Rita Sala, Pietro Rigo
Additional course cost €3000
LIS - Italian Sign Language
This beginner course introduces students to the fundamentals of Italian Sign Language (LIS), focusing on basic vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills. Leveraging our school’s extensive experience and strong connections with the Deaf community, students will also explore Deaf culture and history through interactive activities and guest speakers. The course fosters practical communication and cultural awareness, creating a supportive environment for meaningful engagement with the LIS-speaking community. No prior experience required.
FACULTY: Filippo Calcagno, Sara Radice, Laura di Gioia, Valeria Giura
Additional course cost €3000
in collaboration with our sister organisation
Greek Arts Today
seminar residency program
An exploration of Athens, the historical capital of Greece, through its lively art scene and its artists' response to societal challenges. Connecting with the semester’s experiences in Siena, Italy, you are encouraged to reflect on the social and cultural dynamics of today’s Athens while visiting cultural sites and meeting individuals and collectives with diverse artistic practices.This residency is an interdisciplinary seminar program, open to both School of Arts and School of Liberal Arts students.
Possible
visits
- National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST)
- National Gallery
- Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center
- Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera
- National Library of Greece
Other museums, galleries, art spaces, projects and initiatives that include:
The Siena Art Institute (SART) offers semester, summer and winter programs for undergraduate students, recent graduates and professionals.
Living in Siena
Siena is a charming medieval city with a lively calendar of events throughout the year offering a wide range of opportunities for sightseeing and socializing. Although Siena is a university city with plenty to do and see, most places in the city are within walking distance. If you want to go further afield the strategic location in Tuscany means it’s well-placed for exploring other parts of the region and Italy in general. We believe it is a great place to live and study and we hope you will consider it for your semester abroad!
How to apply
Undergraduate applicants must be in good academic standing (no less than 2.5 GPA or equivalent). Admissions are made on the basis of a holistic appraisal of the entire application packet with particular attention to the portfolio and artist’s statement, so please take the time to thoughtfully assemble these materials.
To guarantee consideration for the semester please respect deadlines. If you miss the deadline please contact studyabroad@sienaart.org, it is sometimes possible to consider late applications.
Deadlines:
- April 30 for the Fall semester
- Nov 1 for the Spring semester
Applicants must complete the online application at this link.
For further guidance on the application process click here
Academic calendar
Fall 2025
September 8, 2025 – December 5, 2025
- September 8 – Arrival and orientation week.
- September 15 – Elective courses begin.
- October 20-22 – Mid-Term exams and critiques.
- October 23-26 – Long weekend break.
- December 1-3 – Final exams and critiques.
Spring 2026
January 27, 2026 – April 25, 2026
- January 27 – Arrival and orientation week.
- February 3 – Elective courses begin.
- March 10-12 – Mid-Term exams and critiques.
- March 13-16 – Long weekend break.
- April 21-23 – Final exams and critiques.
For a more detailed calendar click here.
Accommodation
SART offers a range of accommodation depending on the type of course you are enrolled for. All accommodation is close to the centre of Siena and walking distance from the school. For specific details consult the web page of the programs or contact us for more information.
A cornerstone of the Siena Art Institute semester programs is the homestays we organize with local Italian families. We encourage all Siena Art Institute undergraduates to participate in home-stays as we believe that it facilitates language acquisition and cultural exchange. Students consistently have overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experience with their host families!
The homestay includes linens & towels, weekly laundry, and daily breakfast and dinner with the family (lunch is not included – but students may have access to the kitchenette at the Siena Art Institute).
For alternative accommodation solutions contact studyabroad@sienaart.org
Tuition costs
Basic costs per semester programs are €15000, and include Tuition, homestay accommodation, program fees. Some courses incur additional costs, check course descriptions for more details. For an itemised list of costs, please contact studyabroad@sienaart.org
For special and deaf studies programs you can find more information about the cost of such programs on the site, or contact us directly at studyabroad@sienaart.org
Scholarships
The Siena Art Institute is proud to say that 40% of its past students have been scholarship students. We offer a range of scholarships to help students with the cost of their studies.
- US based students: to apply for the scholarship students should complete all required application materials, including the Scholarship Essay section of the Application Form and the Financial Statement from your home institution’s Financial Aid Office (downloadable during the application process).
- Italy, EU and rest of the world: We frequently publish open calls for applications for scholarship funding, please watch our news section and social media to keep up-to-date about funding opportunities.
For any enquiries about scholarships please contact: studyabroad@sienaart.org
Visa Information / Pre-departure Info
Our semester at the Siena Art Institute and our partner program the Siena School for Liberal Arts is structured with 89 days of intensive on-site activities in Siena. As students stay in Italy for less than 90 days, it is not necessary for American students to request a study visa (which is only required for stays in Italy of more than 90 days). Students of other nationalities should confirm with the Italian embassy in their home country to confirm their visa requirements.
Before their in-person arrival, students will be scheduled with on-line introductory and orientation sessions as well as online language evaluations, to help prepare students for their arrival in Siena and to make the most of our in-person time.
For students wishing to extend their stay in Europe by pursuing our Greek Arts Today program – a visa may well be necessary. It is an excellent opportunity to explore another culture and broaden your horizons during your stay in Europe. Given the visa requirements it is important to communicate your desire to participate well in advance.
More detailed information in the guidance document.
For any enquiries about visas please contact: studyabroad@sienaart.org