4 Unique MFA Programs in Italy

Does earning your masters of art in Italy sounds like what dreams are made of? In a country so iconic and renowned for its architecture, ancient art, and cultural influence, the perspective gained through MFA programs in Italy is likely unrivaled by most other destinations.

In Venice, you’d have to TRY not to be inspired during your MFA in Italy.

Sure, maybe you could stay at home to earn your MFA, but where’s the fun in that? Earning your MFA in Italy will be both career-enhancing and life-changing. You’ll get to actually walk amongst those legendary museums and historical sites rather than just see them in your textbooks. You might even discover the same inspiration found by so many great artists who came before you!

If this is sounding like the right experience for you and your academic goals, then be sure to check out the créme de la créme of MFA programs in Italy. Keep in mind that these aren’t your usual MFA courses, though. These programs are distinctly unique in the material they cover, the skills they build, and the goals they’ll help you reach. They are designed to propel your education from ordinary to one-of-a-kind, enriching your studies and improving your job prospects by the time they’re complete.

So, which one will help you create your magnum opus?

4 unique MFA programs in Italy

1. Master Course in Curatorial Practice with IED

The Master course in Curatorial Practice at IED Venezia presents a program that deals with exhibition design direction and management related to the art field and beyond, training professionals ready to enter into the art industry with full rights. A major advantage of this course is the prestige and uniqueness of Venice as a main player in the current debate on curatorial issues, and as a generator of professional excellence.

The international faculty includes leading curators, scholars in the humanities, artists, and art professionals, coming from many prominent institutions. This course emphasizes that a good curator can interpret the contemporary cultural scene in all its manifestations and act as a specialist in their own field.

This program lasts for one year with start dates in January, and is conducted in English — so no worries if you don’t have Italian language skills! (But hey, what a great opportunity to learn some new phrases, right?)

• Where? Venice
• Duration? One year; begins in January
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2. Master Course in Arts Management with IED

The Master course in Arts Management at IED is truly unique due to its itinerant formula. The study plan is held in two prestigious locations, Florence and Rome, with a one-week workshop in Venice in collaboration with Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Students have the chance to join a grand tour of contemporary art and education, with a focus on the jobs of the future.

Arts Managers operate with a highly interdisciplinary method and they cover a fundamental role in public and private institutions, with many areas of application. These professionals are engaged in art project management and they are capable of identifying innovative content, structuring a comprehensive event schedule, planning and developing fundraising events, and resource management.

A special focus is put on the organization of events, as at the end of each module students have to design and manage an event related to art and culture. This program lasts 11 months with start dates in February, and is also conducted in English.

• Where? Florence and Rome
• Duration? 11 months; begins in February
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3. MFA in Devised & Physical Theatre with Accademia dell'Arte

This full MFA in Italy has less to do with curatorial and management roles in the arts field, and more to do with honing a performance craft. Students who participate in this program will be based in beautiful Arezzo, Tuscany, with a curriculum focused on technical training through a combination of lessons on history, aesthetics, and social theory. In short, if you’re an actor, you’ll find and define your style through this masters of art in Italy.

Students of this course will venture to Torino as well, and even go beyond Italy, enjoying residencies in Berlin and the Czech Republic over the course of the program. The change of scenery ensures that students will gain a strong grasp on European culture, and add nuance to their style through various approaches to the art of acting. This program is a complete Masters program, lasting beyond an academic year; it is fully accredited in the USA.

• Where? Tuscany
• Duration? 1.5 years; begins in fall
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4. MFA in Studio Art with Studio Arts College International (SACI)

Leave behind all the technical stuff, and get your hands dirty with this MFA program with Studio Arts College International. If you’re someone who enjoys creating art and hopes to build a career out of your own artwork or become a college professor in the field, this is an excellent program choice. This program is based in Florence, and lets painters and drawers alike hone their skills in innovation and creative collaboration.

Artists in this program will enjoy working in their own studio space in a renovated Renaissance palazzo in Florence and having their work featured in exhibitions. Students will also routinely meet influential artists, critics, theorists, and curators in the field, allowing numerous chances to build a solid network. Unsurprisingly, there are even more incredible features of this two-year program; upon completion, students will feel more than prepared to confidently enter the art world.

• Where? Florence
• Duration? Two years; begins in fall
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Find your muse with an MFA in Italy!

Michelangelo left behind some iconic sites for you to visit during MFA programs in Italy.

MFA programs in Italy will both inspire and prepare you for your future in art. These programs encapsulate a solid combination of intense, immersive, interesting, and intriguing; that means your MFA in Italy will absolutely be high value — so don’t be scared away by the high investment. They WILL pay off in the long run.

Once you decide what you want your focus to be on, where you want to be located, and how long you want your program to last, you’ll be ready to formulate your goals and take the plunge into your masters of art in Italy. Buona fortuna!

View ALL MFA Programs in Italy

This article was written with help from Istituto Europeo di Design (IED). IED is an international network of education of Design, Fashion, Visual Arts and Management. They have been in operation for more than 50 years, and have educated more than 200,000 students in that time. Many graduates of IED are now working in the creative industry.