This 3 credit 3 week interdisciplinary studio course provides the opportunity to explore Venice by land and by water to creatively engage with its culture, architecture and urbanism, geology, and key climate issues. Students will investigate events such as acqua alta and interface with diverse perspectives on climate emergency, flood mitigation, material transformations, and possible futures of the city.
Course Dates: Jun 14, 2023 — Jul 4, 2023
2.5 GPA required. Non-RISD participants see eligibility requirements below.
Included tuition, accommodation, studio space, in-country transportation, field trips, entrance fees, some group meals and international travel health insurance.
Students will critically investigate the "stones" of Venice: brick, Carrara marble, Istrian stone and trachyte form the geological crust of the city. By attending to the space immediately above and below Venice’s watermark, we will address its regular inundation, material erosion, physical traffic, and salt action. This studio flips the perspective on climate emergency and flood mitigation through a close reading of its ground cover, considering actual and potential solutions through research and project interventions. Students will creatively address how the city can coexist with events such as acqua alta by engaging with diverse perspectives on climate emergency, flood mitigation, material transformations, and possible futures of the city.
Hosted by the European Cultural Academy at the Palazzo Michiel, students will engage with numerous locations across the city’s many islands including archaeological sites, quarries, museums, and landmarks. With regular studio facilities access, field trips, talks, workshops, vaporetto rides, and entry to museums and galleries, including the Venice Architecture Biennale, students will be able to experience Venice on a multitude of levels and access both local and international approaches to creative work. Students will develop projects and a culminating exhibition that represent, document, and redesign Venice's ground, engage how the city can live with water, and expand beyond traditional notions of material durability, restoration, and repair.
To participate in RISD Global Summer Studies, all students are required to stay in RISD- provided housing for the duration of the course.
If 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/design college or institution around the world, or a professional practicing in the field, you are eligible for registration. We will collect a recommendation/support form from your institution/workplace.
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.
Global Summer Studies are three weeks long and take place in June/July, and 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.
In order to reserve a seat, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of application submittal. Students who apply before March 31st will have until April 1, 2023, to submit full payment, and new application submissions starting April 1 must make full payment by April 14, 2023. Students that fail to make full payment by their deadline will forfeit their $500 deposit and their seat in the course.
All RISD students enrolled in RISD and other full degree schools/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 students. 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 and studios 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.
The Global Summer Studies course application will open on February 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM and close on March 15, 2025 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.
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