Frequently Asked Questions
Application & Scholarship
Click ‘apply now.’ You must be at least 18 years of age at the start of your session to participate.
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 & pay application fee, upload 6 images of your work, and submit one letter of recommendation.
Our scholarship allocation varies from year-to-year. The funds available for which scholarships are provided are from donations and benefits.
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.
The $500 program deposit must be paid within 10 days of confirmation that you have a place on the program. 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.
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 program. We do not cover your airfare or transfers to and from the airport.
Your travel on official Program field trips outside of Rome 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
We provide double and triple occupancy bedrooms in our fully furnished apartments in central Rome. Apartments receive regular deep cleaning. Students may request a single occupancy bedroom for an additional fee.
Student Housing is located in central Rome where students experience living in the real Rome. It is close to public tranportation so you can get to/from class and move around the city easily.
Student apartments offer comfortable, fully-furnished living accommodations. Student Housing may occupy separate apartments/buildings and although the apartments vary in location, style, and size, all of them provide the essentials. For your safety and comfort, each apartment is cleaned regularly.
All apartments have free wi-fi and operate a free 24-hour emergency service.
Student Housing is fully furnished and includes (but is not limited to): washing machines (no dryers are necessary as clothes dry overnight on drying racks), closet space, bed linens and pillows, fully equipped shared kitchen, and communal bathrooms.
All students live in shared Rome Art Program apartments while on the program.
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.
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.
Many of our students describe their time with RAP as an intensive and supportive ‘bootcamp’ that accelerates the development of their work. Faculty and staff serve as mentors to students during their time in Rome.
With RAP, you will discover the many layers of Rome, from ancient ruins to the contemporary city. We teach students how to paint in the plein air tradition, on the streets of Rome. Students are given a Weekly Schedule with class locations. Prompts are given at the beginning of each class and students respond, using Rome as their subject. You can expect to create a substantial body of work during your session and leave Rome with a suitcase full of ideas for future work.
Most weekends are kept free. Students can choose to relax in Rome or travel throughout Italy.
Students work primarily in charcoal, graphite, watercolor, and acrylic on paper. 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.
RAP students will visit and work from many of the major sites in Rome, as well as lesser-known ‘local’ spots. Class schedules and site locations are released weekly.
Health & Safety
All students are required to have travel and medical insurance before arrival in Rome. This is standard practice in study abroad programs.
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, RAP provides participating students with a travel packet containing helpful information for navigating the city safely.
COVID-19 Safety
We’re all learning to live with the COVID virus. The safety of our students is our number one priority and we have introduced a range of new safety procedures as a result of the COVID outbreak. We’re an art program that works on-site in Rome in mostly outdoor locations, so ventilation or social distancing isn’t a problem. Our apartments are well-ventilated and deep cleaned twice weekly. Rome has great summer weather so it’s an outdoor culture with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and pizza bars with outdoor terraces and seating.
Yes, all faculty and students participating in the program are required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19, prior to arrival and participation in the program. Please provide a photo / copy of your vaccine card and/or a letter from your vaccine provider.
Should you test positive for COVID-19 while studying with RAP, you may be required to quarantine for the recommended 5 days. You will have the option of spending your quarantine in separate RAP housing or in a hotel of your choice. (Please note that you are responsible for quarantine housing fees.) RAP will check in daily and provide assignments that you may complete in your room.