AFTER GRADUATION

Most students who come to the Florence Academy intend to work professionally as painters or sculptors in the figurative tradition. We understand the challenges of this choice, and place great importance on bringing visibility to the artwork you produce.
To further support the professional careers of our advanced students and graduates, we organized exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world.

The Alumni Exhibition has taken place in London (1993 and 1997), San Francisco (1995), Atlanta and Ocala, Florida (1996), New York (1997), Gothenburg, Sweden (1999), Germany and New York (2003 and 2014). Since 2005, an annual Alumni Exhibition has been held in Florence at the stables of the Corsini family home, and became a biennial event in 2009. Dealers, patrons and friends from around the world are invited to attend.

In numbers:
Working artists: 70 % We count over 200 graduates who either 1) have had solo exhibitions or appear regularly in group showings in galleries, cultural associations, and art fairs, 2) have participated in and placed in and/or won art competitions like the Portrait Society of America’s Annual Competition, the National Sculpture Society, the British Portrait Prize, the A.M. Travelling Grant (Australia) and Art Renewal Center International Salon; 3) appear in art publications like Fine Art Connoisseur, and International Artist; 4) have formal gallery representation, or 5) paint almost exclusively on commission.

Teaching: 30% There are 58 graduates who are currently teaching the methodology they learned at The Florence Academy of Art in a variety of academic settings: 26 have started their own atelier style schools similar but on a smaller scale to the Florence Academy in the U.S., Italy, Britain and other cities in Europe, or are employed by non-accredited atelier-style institutions; four are employed by NASAD accredited institutions; 24 are employed by The Florence Academy of Art as program directors or principal instructors.

ENROLMENT

Students who apply to The Florence Academy of Art have an intense desire for this specific training. They seek a language based on tradition handed down by masters from the pas, and the tools to convey their ideas with confidence through the oil or clay mediums. A common visual aesthetic draws them to the classical world (and its renaissance in Florence) to build an artistic vocabulary where beauty and ideas are intrinsic to art.

There are currently 100 students enrolled in the Florence program, and 28 students in Mölndal, from 35 different countries. Beginning students are encouraged to observe and learn from the work of the more advanced who, in turn, can have the opportunity to work as student teachers.

Entry to The Florence Academy of Art is based on a review of five reproductions of recent drawings, paintings or sculpture. The faculty makes its selections based on the applicant’s interest in figurative realism, whether she or he attempts to draw, paint or sculpt from life, and whether she or he shows some raw talent.

Students with prior training in academic drawing may be allowed to enter at an intermediate level. The student’s level upon entry (beginning or intermediate) is determined by the faculty from the five images of recent work upon application.

Entry to our program is competitive, although we manage to eventually find places for most applicants. For those applicants who are not immediately invited to join the program, they may be put on the wait list.

Some applicants have said they hesitated to apply to The Florence Academy of Art because “my work is not as good as the work by your students on your site.” Our mission is to train you to achieve those same skills, and possibly surpass them, by providing you a curriculum, teaching method and studio environment based on the soundest principles of realistic tradition, and an intellectually stimulating community fostered by the students, teachers and staff at The Florence Academy of Art.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

FAA/Sweden is an international school. Our students come from all over the world, and our network of galleries and alumni extends far beyond the two countries we operate in. At the same time we appreciate the special quality of our environs, and keep a local touch to the school. We would love to tell you more about living in Sweden. Or maybe you want to get in contact with currently enrolled students to hear what they think about living in Scandinavia is like? Send us an email and tell us a little bit about who you are.

Students who are non-EU citizens may require a student residence permit (study visa) from their local Swedish embassy or consulate. The documentation required to obtain a permit will be provided by The Florence Academy of Art in the acceptance packet. It is recommended that students start the visa application process immediately upon confirmation of their acceptance. You can visit the website for the Swedish migration agency, Migrationsverket, to learn more and apply here.

Please note that our education is registered in Sweden as an “Art and Culture Education” (Konst och Kultur Utbildning) and will therefore be classified under “Other studies” on the Migrationsverket website.

Visa requirements are subject to change and vary between consular offices. Students are responsible for contacting the embassy or consulate in their home countries for up to date information on student visa requirements. The Florence Academy of Art is not liable for students not receiving visas for study in Sweden.

SCANDINAVIAN STUDENTS

As a Scandinavian student you will find yourself in an international study environment – at home. You will enjoy the benefits of studying within Scandinavia while studying with classmates from around the world. Students may transfer seamlessly into the same level among Florence, New York Metro or Mölndal without experiencing any difference in the curriculum or instructional language, or they may spend a trimester of study as an exchange student at a different location.

The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden is officially recognized by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education and has been approved for CSN. Through CSN, Swedish students may receive study assistance from the Swedish state to fund their studies at The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden. Students from Norway, Denmark and Finland may use this recognition to apply for funding from their respective countries.

The study assistance is of type B1, which means the same conditions as for college or university studies.

ADMISSION AND TUITION FEES

Fall Tuition:
SEK 45 400 due by September 1

Winter Tuition:
SEK 45 400 due by December 1

Spring Tuition:
SEK 45 400 due by March 1

Entry Conditions
Basic Eligibility, completed secondary education
The applicant must possess knowledge in the Swedish and/or English language
Applicants must submit five work samples to the application.

Work samples
To complete your application you are required to attach five reproductions of recent drawings and/or paintings. This allows our Admission Committee to determine who is best suited for study at The Florence Academy of Art / Sweden. The Admission Committee want to see if the applicant:

  • reflects an interest in figurative realism
  • attempts to draw from life
  • has looked at or studied the old masters
  • has potential for development
  • shows talent

Selection
Applicants who are considered suitable but could not be admitted due to space restrictions are placed in reserve on a waiting list. The applications on the waiting list are reconsidered at the next application period and judged on the same basis as new applications. In cases where students already admitted for some reason withdraw their application the school contacts applicants on the waiting list. These applicants are offered a spot in the program, sometimes even after the deadline.

All applications are filed. Notification of admission are given to the applicants via email or letter. All correspondence in connection with application and admission are archived.

Upon acceptance, you will be requested to confirm your place with a non-refundable deposit (money order or bank transfer) in the amount of SEK 9,000.00. Tuition balance in the amount of SEK 36,400.00, must be paid by the following dates depending on the trimester you enter the program:

Fall trimester balance due September 1
Winter trimester balance due December 1
Spring trimester balance due March 1

The Florence Academy of Art endeavors to provide an educational environment conducive to encouraging the artistic talents of each student. This requires that all students respect the policies of the Academy, its instructors, and the other students in the program. By enrolling in the Academy, students agree to subscribe to the Studio Policy. The Studio Policy is contained in the Student Handbook.

Students may request refunds (less the non-refundable deposit) in their first trimester of study within the first week of the trimester. Any period of absence during the term, whatever the motive or duration, will not be refunded.

The Florence Academy of Art reserves the right to make changes in teaching staff when necessary.

ACCREDITATION

THE FLORENCE ACADEMY OF ART IS:

  • accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) as a Certificate program.
  • recognized by the The Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education and has been approved for study assistance through CSN
  • affiliated with Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA
  • recommended by Art Renewal Center as an ARC accredited atelier
  • a branch of the International Academy of Fine Art and has been recognized to be a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States since 2000

WHY IS ACCREDITATION IMPORTANT?

The Florence Academy of Art offers U.S. college credit for its courses. A student who attends a portion of the full time program or a workshop may receive credit towards a university degree. The credit is granted directly by The Florence Academy of Art after successful completion of the course.

The diploma issued by The Florence Academy of Art upon completion of the Painting program is a university level Certificate. Students who complete successfully all required exercises as listed in the Drawing and Painting curricula receive a Certificate in Painting. The Certificate is conferred when all required projects are completed. A Certificate may be used by an undergraduate as credit towards a BA or BFA, or by a graduate as added proof of expertise.

The academy operates on a quarter system and units are calculated based on current accreditation standards in the U.S. Units correspond to quarter hours. You may request a transcript of your grades from the Registrar. Students transferring to universities anywhere in the world will provide this transcript either directly to the university (in the case of U.S. citizens) or to the appropriate ministry to request equivalency in their home country.

147 units are required to complete the Drawing and Painting Program.

WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE?

The diploma we issue at graduation has university level validity in the U.S. It is called a Certificate, and is equivalent to a certain number of years of college credit depending on the individual U.S. university or foreign government. A Certificate from The Florence Academy of Art demonstrates that you have completed a university level academic program in a particular field, either Painting or Sculpture, and that course of study has met the standards of academic approval set by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

HOW DO STUDENTS USE THE CERTIFICATE?

A Certificate may be used by an undergraduate as credit towards a terminal degree, or by a graduate as added proof of expertise. Students interested in pursuing a degree like a BA or BFA will need to return to a degree-granting institution and complete whatever general education courses or residency requirements of the particular university.

Non-U.S. students may transfer their U.S. university credits or diploma to a foreign country by requesting that country to recognize the diploma and grant equivalency. Non-U.S. students will therefore need to go through a national procedure to get their diploma recognized by their home country.

For further information, please contact our office: info@florenceacademyofart.se

ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION

The Academy’s branch in Mölndal is also recognized by the The Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education, Myndigheten för Yrkeshögskolas, as a vocational program for artistic training in classical/realistic drawing & painting. The branch is also approved for CSN (Sweden) to fund their studies at The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden. Students from Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland may use this recognition to apply for funding from their respective countries. The study assistance is of type B1, which means the same conditions as for college or university studies.

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