Summer in Florence: Art & Design
Host Institution
Our host institution, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA), was founded in 1970 as the Santa Reparata Graphic Art Center by Dennis Olsen, Giuseppe Gattuso, and Michael Schnorr; three artists who wished to provide a professional workshop for established print-makers and interested students. Though modest in size by today's standards, the Center attracted an impressive array of artists, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized. Over the years, Santa Reparata provided work space and contract printing for Antonio Zavier and Raffaele Bueno, Sandro Chia, Renato Ranaldi, Giovanni Ragusa, James McGarrell, and many others.
By the end of the 1990's, the student population had outgrown the studio and the 'Graphic Art Center' was transformed into the Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA). The school moved into larger facilities initially in 2000, and finally at its present location on Via San Gallo 53 rin 2008 .
The School increased its academic offerings to include numerous programs that now comprise a much larger curriculum of Studio Arts (painting, drawing, photography, book arts, printmaking), Liberal Arts (art history, history, museum studies, cinema, literature, Italian language and culture), and design (fashion, textiles, jewelry, and graphic design).
Its 10 departments are located in the historic center of Florence, and are fully up-to-date with state-of-the-arts equipment and facilities. These are:
- Photography & Film
- Painting & Drawing
- Printmaking
- Book Art
- Fashion Design
- Jewelry & Textile Design
- Digital Graphic & Drawing Design
- Art History
- History, Political Science and Italian Culture
- Literature, Creative Writing and Journalism
- Italian Language
SRISA goal is to encourage purposeful inquiry, fruitful dialogue, and creative experimentation as essential tools for students in the 21st century.
Accreditation
SRISA is proud to partner with Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri as its school of record. Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. SRISA has over 50 university partnerships with colleges and universities in the US and Mexico, and hosts nearly 35 visiting faculty-led programs per year at its Florence campus.
