Do more than admire famous Italian art pieces at a museum or in the Sistine Chapel…create it yourself! You can be the next Michelangelo! Cultural Embrace partners with one of the best language and arts schools in Italy. The arts and crafts courses are held in the laboratories and workshops of local artists and craftspeople from Siena or the immediate outskirts.

Select from one to four weeks to master the basic theories and practice behind your chosen art or craft and to produce your own piece of work. Work closely with expert craftsmen and experience a cultural reality born of history, tradition, experience, talent, and patience. The courses are taught in Italian, although most of the teachers speak good English and even some German. In addition, these classes can supplement an Italian language course by teaching specific practical vocabulary pertaining to the arts.

Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences! 

CERAMICS:  Learn to produce pottery using the traditional potter’s wheel and other methods. You will then learn how to decorate the works using the ancient techniques of Sienese potters and Renaissance artists.

JEWELRY MAKING:  In a goldsmith’s workshop, two talented young master craftsmen will teach you the basics of jewelry making, including a variety of techniques using precious metals and gemstones. During the course, you will design and make your very own piece of jewelry.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC ART:  These lessons take place in a printer’s studio just outside Siena. The two young teachers have worked at the Academia delle Belle Arti in Milan and a Public Art School. You will learn about the materials and techniques used in copperplate engraving and you will make a copperplate stencil. In addition, you will learn about lithographic printing and make a lithograph from your own designs.

ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION:  In an attractive 13th century building in the heart of Siena, you will learn to recognize different materials and styles and the various techniques used in furniture making, some of which date back to the 13th century! In addition, you will see various decoration techniques and the materials and tools used by craftsmen over the centuries. Guided by an expert craftsman, you will be able to make your own piece of work, such as a picture frame, a candle, or paper decorated with watercolors.

PAINTING AND DRAWING:  Outside in the beautiful Sienese countryside (weather permitting) or in the artist’s studio, learn to draw and paint using the principal techniques of drawing (charcoal, pencil, and sanguine) and watercolor painting.

STAINED GLASS:  Courses are held in a famous glass workshop in the center of Siena. An expert in stained glass window making will guide you through the steps of binding glass to lead and the techniques of melting, restoring, sanding, and installing a stained glass window. You will carry out all the practical steps in the making of your own piece of stained glass – from choosing and cutting the glass to setting it in lead. This is an excellent way to learn the secrets behind the craftsmanship that can be seen in the windows of many of the most beautiful churches and cathedrals.

SILK PAINTING – BATIK:  In a small workshop near the Pinacoteca gallery in the center of Siena, a talented young artist will show you how to make batik and silk paintings. The silk paintings, in particular, are popularly used in Siena on scarves worn by Contrada members to show which area of the city (Contrada) they belong to – recognizable by the vibrant colors and unusual images that vary from one Contrada to another.

1. Obtain the Cultural Classes Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Cultural Classes Form (PDF).

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be mailed to you within 7-10 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 to have the forms mailed to you in 7-10 days. 

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX 78745 USA

Completed packet should include:

• Cultural Classes Program Application
• Signed Cultural Classes Agreement
• Copy of your passport (information page only)
• Two 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back
• US$200 non-refundable application fee
  

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089.