Frequently Asked Questions
About Rome Art Program
Founded by Artistic Director Carole Robb in 2009, Rome Art Program is an independent New York State registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.
Rome Art Program offers an internationally-recognized core faculty from the U.S., U.K., and Italy. We are independent working artists, critics, curators, and art historians who have a passion for Rome and the impact it has on artists.
Learn more about our accomplished faculty on our Faculty & Staff page.
Rome Art Program is a process-based plein air program whose ideology is based on the compelling impact that intuitive firsthand observation and perception have on drawing and painting, where the interaction of figuration and abstraction intermingle.
Students work on location taking their inspiration from the evocative ruins, churches, Renaissance palaces, museums, streets, and parks that constitute the landscape of Rome. Critiques and lectures lend insight and prompt a deeper knowledge of each student’s artistic journey. Guiding students through important sites, our faculty teach students to read the language of the past and of the present.
Our most successful students are serious practicing student artists who don’t mind getting their hands dirty. We work daily, on site, in locations that may be both breathtaking and challenging. Our students are dedicated to their artistic process, passionate about learning, and open to instruction and visual experimentation. They work well both independently and in group settings, are receptive to faculty guidance, and are supportive of their peers.
Application & Scholarship
To apply, click ‘apply now.’ You must be at least 18 years of age at the start of your session to participate. Space is limited as we work best in small groups, with a maximum of 12 students each month.
Students do not need to know Italian. RAP classes are in English and it’s spoken widely in Rome. However, it’s useful to know phrases or some basic Italian.
To apply, you must complete our 3-Step Application: Complete application form and pay the application fee, upload 6 – 8 images of your recent work, and submit one letter of recommendation from an arts professional. Once all materials are submitted, we forward your application to our Artist Panel for review. You can expect to receive a response within 7-10 business days.
Students participating in the Full Program may apply for a $1,000 work study scholarship. Students participating in a 4-week session may apply for a $500 work study scholarship. Our scholarship allocation varies from year-to-year. The funds available for which scholarships are provided are from private donations and benefits.
Many of RAP’s undergraduate/graduate students from the US are eligible to receive transfer credits from their Home School.
Credits are issued from your Home School and eligibility should be arranged and confirmed by contacting your department chair or study abroad contact at your Home School.
For more information visit Scholarships & Course Credits.
The $500 non-refundable program deposit must be paid within 10 days of confirmation that you have a place on the program or by the deposit deadline, whatever comes first. Upon acceptance to the program, our Program Manager will be in touch with a payment schedule.
For information on our deadline and cancellations, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
Travel
Italian visas are not required for study abroad under 90 days if you are a US national. European (EU) and UK citizens also do not require a visa to attend Rome Art Program. All other non-US nationals should confirm their own country’s rules and regulation for study abroad in Italy under 90 days.
Starting in late 2026, an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) application may be needed for non-EU visitors a week before traveling to Italy.
You are responsible for your own travel expenses to and from Rome at the beginning and end of the Program. We do not cover your airfare or transfers to and from the airport.
Your travel on official Program classes and field trips is included in your Program Fees.
If you will be participating in our Summer Program, we suggest a convenient time to purchase your plane ticket is approximately 1 month or more before departure. Many airlines have accommodations for unexpected travel changes, so we recommend that you review the policies of the airlines that you’re considering to make sure that the one you choose to book with has a policy that works for you.
RAP enrolls students from various countries and states, so you will not be departing from the same airport nor will you all be arriving at the same time in Rome. Therefore, students are responsible for their transportation to and from the airport. RAP will provide you with information on how to get to Student Housing. Pre-arranged transport service may be available for a fee, from the airport to Student Housing.
Housing & Meals
Our fully equipped student apartments provide our participants with the unparalleled experience of living in the center of Rome.
Student Housing is included in the program fees and apartments have everything students need for a comfortable stay, including bed linens/towels/pillows, closet space, a fully equipped kitchen, communal bathrooms, free WiFi, and washing machines (no dryers are necessary as clothes dry overnight on drying racks).
Student Housing may occupy separate apartments/buildings and although the apartments vary in location, style, and size, all of them provide the essentials. For safety and comfort, each apartment is cleaned regularly and all apartments operate a free 24-hour emergency service.
Student Housing is located in central Rome where students experience living in the real Rome. Public transportation is accessible which allows students to easily navigate through the city.
The address for Student Housing is provided shortly before the start of the Summer Program.
All students live in shared Rome Art Program apartments while on the Program. Students many times form close friendships with their peers while in Rome and residing in Student Housing strengthens those bonds.
Under special circumstances, requests to live outside of Student Housing may be submitted to RAP’s Program Manager and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Our housing is reserved for Rome Art Program participants only. For the safety of all students, overnight guests are not allowed in Student Housing.
Students are responsible for their own meals and can use their apartment’s fully-equipped kitchen. Grocery stores and markets are nearby and the apartments are surrounded by affordable restaurants, breakfast bars, and pizza bars. Students often look forward to their meal together after class!
Classes & Materials
We are an intensive program with weekday classes, Monday-Friday. During the week, students attend painting, drawing, and art history classes on site in Rome. Art History and Group Critiques take place most Fridays. Evenings are generally kept free. On the weekends students can choose to relax in Rome, head to one of the local beaches, or travel throughout Italy.
With RAP, students will discover the many layers of Rome, from ancient ruins to the contemporary city.
Students work in plein air, sometimes in challenging conditions due to the site location, crowds, or weather. Classes generally run from 9:30am – 5:00pm, M-F, with a break for lunch. Occasionally there is an evening class. Students should arrive to class on time and be prepared to experiment and work outside of their comfort zone.
Prompts are given at the beginning of each class and students respond, using Rome as their subject. Classes are largely process-driven; faculty guide and advise while allowing the student to make their own discoveries along the way. This process allows the student to find their own visual language and unique artist voice.
Many of our students describe their time with RAP as an intensive and supportive ‘bootcamp’ that accelerates the development of their work. RAP faculty serve as mentors to students during their time in Rome and provide student support and guidance throughout the program. Students can expect to create a substantial body of work during their session and leave Rome with confidence and a suitcase of ideas for future work.
Students work primarily in watercolor, charcoal, graphite, and ink. Acrylic on paper is optional after Week 2. Paper packs flat into a suitcase and we prefer art materials that dry fast, which makes transporting work easy. We do not recommend working in oil on canvas due to the long dry time of oil paint. Also, moving wet paintings from on-site locations in Rome to student housing or transporting on an airplane is not practical.
A few weeks prior to your departure, we will send a list of recommended art materials. You have the option of purchasing these in Rome or in your home country. Rome art stores are well-stocked while giving the student the experience of trying different media and brands. Student often return home with meaningful supplies that remind them of their Rome experience, when they next pick up their pencil or brush.
Class schedules and site locations are released weekly. RAP students will visit and work from many of the major sites in Rome such as the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and Vatican, as well as lesser-known ‘local’ spots. Tickets for sites and museums that are visited for class are provided by the Program.
Health & Safety
Rome is one of the safest European capital cities and one of the safest cities in Italy. Though there is very little violent crime, visitors should be mindful of pickpockets and petty theft near public transportation and tourist sites. Prior to departure and at Student Orientation, RAP provides participating students with a travel packet containing helpful information for navigating the city safely.
All students are required to have travel and medical insurance before arrival in Rome. This is standard practice in study abroad programs.
We’re all learning to live with the COVID-19 virus and the safety of our students is our number one priority. All RAP faculty and staff are vaccinated against the virus. As RAP classes may be held in crowded locations, we suggest you speak with your healthcare provider about vaccination.
Should you test positive for COVID-19 while studying with RAP, you may be required to quarantine for the recommended 5 days. You may have the option of spending your quarantine in separate RAP housing, if available, or in a hotel of your choice. (Please note that you are responsible for quarantine housing fees). RAP will check in daily and provide you with assignments that may be completed in your room