An Act and a Community

When The Florence Academy of Art / Sweden welcomed its first students in January 2007, our mission was clear: to provide rigorous, high-quality training in the classical traditions of drawing and painting. Over the years, this mission has grown, shaped not only by our evolving understanding of art education but also by the experiences of our students and the times we live in.

Workshops have always been a cornerstone of our approach. From the beginning, we recognized that not everyone could commit to the intensive three-year Drawing and Painting program. For some, time constraints, life circumstances, or career goals made shorter, focused courses the perfect way to engage with the world of classical art. These workshops became an essential way for us to share our methods and philosophy with a wider audience, sharing a love of art and its traditions.

Lessons from the Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives, it brought with it profound challenges. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, we as an organization came to a deeper understanding of the role art plays in our lives. Art is not only an individual act but also a communal one. It offers solace, expression, and connection—a reminder of our shared humanity.

During that time, we saw how creating art and coming together helped people navigate isolation and uncertainty. This realization deepened our commitment to making our school a space where art and community thrive side by side.

A Renewed Commitment to Inclusivity

Since then, we have taken deliberate steps to make our workshops more differentiated and inclusive. We now offer a broader range of formats, catering to diverse needs, schedules, and artistic interests. From single-day evening courses to more intensive sessions, we aim to create opportunities for anyone with a passion for painting to engage with us.

About a year ago we changed the structure of our workshops, from courses with a fixed subject and format, to a more flexible and open format. This is not the typical workshop structure but it has allowed for something more dynamic and sustainable:

• students can choose what subjects they want to focus on
• we tailor the exercises and teaching to you
• all materials for the course are provided, including models
• instructors are qualified to teach any subject
• increased diversity and inspiration for participants

As this is an unorthodox approach, we understand that it will take some time to become acquainted and understand how it works. The bottom line is that workshop students at FAA / Sweden can now design their own schedule in a much better way — at the same time this change has allowed us to ensure an improved teacher per student ratio.

The Road Ahead

As we look to the future, we remain committed to an environment where art flourishes as both an act and a community. We invite you to join us — whether for a weekend workshop, an intensive week-long class, the 8-week immersion course, the academic immersion year — or the full three-year program. Together, we can continue to celebrate the timeless craft of painting while building a community that inspires, supports, and uplifts all who walk through our doors.