“The rivers — beings that have always inhabited worlds in different forms — suggest to me that if there is a future to be imagined, it is an ancestral one, because it has always been here.”
—Ailton Krenak
Over three weeks, students will engage in meetings with scientists, workshops with artists and local organizations, field excursions, museum visits, and interactions with Indigenous and riverside communities. The program will combine days of theoretical grounding, forest immersion, boat journeys along the Amazon’s rivers, and studio work in the city of Manaus. Ancestral knowledge and non-human technologies will be explored as essential components for building more sustainable relationships with the forest — and beyond.
The scholarship application for Global Summer Studies 2026 will open on December 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM and close on January 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
The Global Summer Studies 2026 course application will open on February 02, 2026 at 7:00 PM and close on March 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Estimated dates—final dates to be announced.
Course Dates: Jun 22, 2026 — Jul 14, 2026
Open to RISD and non-RISD students enrolled in another art and design program with current cumulative GPA is 2.5 or above, and recent RISD graduates.
Estimated cost—final cost to be announced.
Included tuition, accommodation, in-country transportation, field trips, entrance fees, some group meals and international travel health insurance. Airfare is not included in the cost and participants are responsible for their own airfare.
The Amazon Rainforest, the largest in the world, is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, vast rivers, and the ancestral knowledge preserved by the peoples who live there. For millennia, this lush forest has adapted, transformed, and evolved, sustaining life on Earth. In recent decades, however — and especially in recent years — it has faced severe pressures: deforestation, loss of biodiversity, fires, and the erasure of traditional knowledge, all driven by human activity.
But how can we, as humans, also become agents of regeneration?
This is the central question that will guide the path of this course. Inspired by the principles of Adaptation and Resilience outlined by the United Nations Climate Change, the course recognizes that the planet is already experiencing profound impacts from climate change, including rising temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme events, and the accelerated loss of ecosystems. Effective responses must emerge at multiple scales — local, regional, and global — transforming ecological, social, and economic systems through the integration of scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom. Nature-based Solutions, also advanced by the United Nations, guide actions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage natural ecosystems, in both urban environments and forests, helping to curb biodiversity loss and support the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
In response to this scenario, the course takes a transdisciplinary approach, inviting students to think and act in support of the continuity of natural phenomena, biodiversity, and Amazonian ecosystems. With this in mind, students will take part in an immersive experience in the forests and rivers of the Brazilian Amazon, exploring ways to connect ancestral knowledge with contemporary practices in art, design, and ecology. The goal is to explore pathways for ecological and social regeneration through direct dialogue with local communities.
Over three weeks, students will engage in meetings with scientists, workshops with artists and local organizations, field excursions, museum visits, and interactions with Indigenous and riverside communities. The program will combine days of theoretical grounding, forest immersion, boat journeys along the Amazon’s rivers, and studio work in the city of Manaus. Ancestral knowledge and non-human technologies will be explored as essential components for building more sustainable relationships with the forest — and beyond.
As the culminating experience, students will develop original projects in collaboration with artists, designers, architects, and local communities, deepening the dialogue with the forest and envisioning possible futures both for the Amazon and for their own contexts. These projects will be presented in a final exhibition, accompanied by a critical review session with invited guests.
With a strong emphasis on studio-based practice, the course is designed for students in visual arts, architecture, urbanism, and design who wish to integrate their practice with contemporary ecological and social issues, with a focus on regeneration, adaptation, and resilience.
The scholarship application for Global Summer Studies 2026 will open on December 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM and close on January 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
The Global Summer Studies 2026 course application will open on February 02, 2026 at 7:00 PM and close on March 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
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Increasing financial aid is a central pillar of RISD’s equity, inclusion and diversity commitment. Through partnership with other campus offices, we are working to provide greater support and access to students interested in pursuing global learning experiences at RISD.
View detailsIf your current cumulative GPA is 2.5 or above, you are eligible for registration. If your current cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, you must first contact the Registrar at registrar@risd.edu to seek exception to this academic policy.
If you are a college student currently enrolled in another art and design college or institution around the world you are eligible for registration. We will collect a recommendation and support form from your institution within the application.
In order to register for RISD Global Summer Studies, you are expected to have a high level of English (speech, writing, and comprehension) as all coursework and critique is delivered in English, and your current cumulative GPA must be 2.5 or above.
Global Summer Studies are three weeks long and take place in June and July. You are required to attend all program activities scheduled during the travel course. RISD Global Summer Studies comply with RISD class attendance policy. In case of unexcused or multiple absences, you may be removed from the course, given a grade of “W" (withdrawal) or a grade of “F” (fail).
Requesting to withdraw from a RISD off-campus global learning program, including RISD Global Summer Studies, prior to the start of the course is highly discouraged and requires a formal process outlined in the RISD course withdrawal policy. It is not possible for a student to drop a RISD Global Summer Studies travel course via the standard Add/Drop process after it has commenced. In the case of unforeseen and extenuating circumstances (and only after students have spoken with the faculty lead and RISD Global for approval to withdraw from the program), students should be aware that no refund will be issued.
Apply for/Renew your Passport
You will require a valid passport that should not expire within 6 months of the return date from your travel course. Additional requirements may apply.
U.S. citizens – Check the Department of State website for application/renewal guidance.
Citizens of all other countries – Check your consulate/embassy’s website for renewal guidance. If you have an I-20 form, you must also ensure that you get it signed for travel by a member of the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) before departing the United States. If you are a Permanent Resident you should carry your green card together with your passport.
Research Visa Requirements
Be sure to research any visa requirements based on your course destination and passport. It is your responsibility to determine if a visa is required based on your nationality and to take the necessary steps to secure one. You need to research the destination(s) of the Global Summer Studies course(s) you are interested in and should not apply to a course in which you may not be able to obtain the necessary visa(s) associated. Assessing the visa application process, feasibility of receiving a visa, and obtaining a visa is your responsibility. You should research visa requirements well in advance, as processing times and documentation may vary depending on your passport and destination country. If you choose to apply for a course where you are not eligible to secure a visa, please note that no refunds will be issued for any course related costs.
In order to reserve a seat, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of application submittal. Students will submit full payment for the course when all seats are occupied but no later than March 23, 2026. Students that fail to make full payment by their deadline will forfeit their $500 deposit and their seat in the course.
All RISD students and full degree seeking students enrolled at other schools or universities are required to remain in good academic standing in order to participate in Global Summer Studies. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all participants. Failure to remain in good academic standing can lead to removal from the course, either before or during the course.
In cases where summer travel courses do not reach full capacity, the course may be canceled after the last day of registration. As such, all students are advised not to purchase flights for participation in Global Summer Studies courses until the course is confirmed by RISD Global.
The scholarship application for Global Summer Studies 2026 will open on December 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM and close on January 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
The Global Summer Studies 2026 course application will open on February 02, 2026 at 7:00 PM and close on March 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
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Have questions? The RISD Global team is available to meet for a 1:1 advising session. We can give you more information about your study options, help you figure out which program makes sense for you, and assist you with the application process.
Schedule an AppointmentNo upcoming events for this program at this time.
No announcements for this program.