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 an art institute located in beautiful Florence, Italy.

Select from four to twelve weeks to master the basic theories and practice behind your chosen art or craft and to produce your own piece of work, all while brushing up on your Italian. Work closely with expert teachers 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 are offered as supplement to Italian language courses that teach specific practical vocabulary pertaining to the arts.

Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences! 

Each course includes 20 hours of General Italian lessons per week (mornings), with 10 hours of program instruction in the afternoons. 

INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM:  Interior design explores all the elemts tied to space and its usefulness to humanity.  This profession is marked by intellectual curiosity, aesthetic pleasure, as well as a wide range of cultural and technical competence.  During this course, you will learn and practice the most important concepts of interior design, harness the functional  and morphological aspects using different mediums, including a computer.  Basic, intermediate and advanced levels available.

FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM:  Fashion is a perpsective rather than a receptive instrument able to reflect signs and moods from society, anticipate behaviours and tastes, and occupy a primary place in various sectors of design.  Practice and study all the aspects of fashion design, from form, history and materials to experimental fashion and marketing.  Basic, intermediate and advanced levels available.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM:  This beginner's course in digital photography opens doors and lens to those who want to see their world in a more creative way.  Learn the basic principles of digital photography, creative techniques for computer digitalisation and final printing.  Upon completion of this course, you will have a final portfolio of 8 pictures, professionally printed and well presented.  Come be inspired by the beauty of Italy and learn to document it like a pro!

PAINTING PROGRAM:  Explore a range of painting techniques and careful instruction while you explore the Italian countryside.  Develop your drawing and painting technique and hone your artistic awareness with the inspiration of the Renaissance masterpieces. Basic, intermediate, and advanced levels available.  Depending on your level, you will be introduced to new painting techniques such as classical painting techniques, monochrome painting, color theories, realism portraits, charcoal, woodcutting, etc.

TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM:  Develop your individual artistic expression under the careful guidance of artists in Italy!  A basics course provides an introducation to the art of black and white photography.  Courses include instruction on the mechanical operation of a camera, film exposure, development, negative handling, to processing and printing your pictures. An intermediate course builds on your skills and helps you to master techniques such as lighting, composition, style in both development and shooting, and inspires you with visits to photographic exhibitions around Italy.  Specific cameras are required to complete this course, please contact your Programs Coordinator for more information.

Industrial design, jewelry design, history of art, graphic design, and sculpture are also available.  Please contact your Porgrams Coordinator for details.

Residence (min./max.) On request
Hotel (min./max.) On request
*Fees do not include €60/$85 Accommodations Placement
**Please note that prices are subject to change according to exchange rate of Euro/dollars.

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 e-mailed to you within 2-3 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.