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Art History Abroad

4.99 Rating
123 reviews
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Why choose Art History Abroad?

Study art, architecture and European culture in Italy, France and London for a semester in the autumn, 6 weeks during the Gap Year or a 2-4 week Summer holiday course. Art History Abroad programmes are carefully structured and brilliantly taught so that art and culture come to life. We believe in a few simple truths: that art is best taught in the presence of the real thing and that tutor groups (of 9 students or fewer) should encourage discourse and expression. AHA tutors travel with the course, providing a friendly, enthusiastic approach, which has been an inspiration to countless students for 30 years. Open to students of all disciplines, students need only an enquiring mind.

Website
www.arthistoryabroad.com
Founded
1987
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Community Photos

Gelato in Italy
A completely empty Vatican!! Our magical morning tour
Getting tirimisu almost everywhere!
Visiting Angi's home in San Gimignano!! GORGEOUS vineyard, dogs, family, food, and swimming
Visiting Angi's home in San Gimignano!! GORGEOUS vineyard, dogs, family, food, and swimming
A completely empty Vatican!! Our magical morning tour
Getting tirimisu almost everywhere!
Getting tirimisu almost everywhere!
Visiting Angi's home in San Gimignano!! GORGEOUS vineyard, dogs, family, food, and swimming
A completely empty Vatican!! Our magical morning tour
Sketching architecture together in Rome
Boat trip in Sicily
Sketching architecture together in Rome
Boat trip in Sicily
My group at our last formal dinner in Venice.
my group in titignano

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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves with creating a safe and inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds are able to enjoy a life changing travelling experience.

At AHA we know that culture leads to confidence, so every course has two aims: to discover and explore European culture and, in equal measure, the development of young people in a space where they feel secure and integrated.

Any form of discrimation is not accepted on AHA.

LGBTQIA+ Support

AHA courses are open to all. We pride ourselves with creating a safe and inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds are able to enjoy a life changing travelling experience.

At AHA we know that culture leads to confidence, so every course has two aims: to discover and explore European culture and, in equal measure, the development of young people in a space where they feel secure and integrated.

Further Italy and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and any form of discrimation is not accepted on AHA.

Accessibility Support

AHA has a track record for taking students with varying kinds and levels of disabilities on courses, and we warmly encourage applications from all people.

Since our tutor to student ratio is very small (never more than 1 tutor to 9 students), AHA provides individual support shaped to the needs of each and every student, ensuring excellent care of young people. We therefore make provisions and organise an environment where people with disabilities can safely enjoy their travelling and make the most of their experience.

Impact

Sustainability

Our programs are geared toward environmental education understood in relation to wider themes of history, society and culture.

During our courses we always encourage critical thinking and we take the time to explore the impact that travelling has both at an individual and organisational level. We are also committed to maximising the net positive impact while minimising the carbon footprint of every program- Nick Ross, director of AHA, plants a tree for each flight that is being purchased to attend any of our programs to offset the carbon footprint of our courses.

Reviews

Default avatar
Maria Agnese
17
Female
Italy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Art History Abroad | Summer Gap Courses in Italy

AHA SOUTHERN COURSE

Oct 4, 2023

very fun and well organised, you can have fun without having to think/stress about organizing the activities to be done, tutors who are very well trained and also supportive.
it can help you be alone and in a group at the same time!!!
you can make friends very quickly but everyone leaves you your personal space if u want to.
there are private and very comfortable transports, it is useful for looking at monuments/works/museums without getting too tired between one and the other.

it's normal to have some moments of discomfort but art, beautiful experiences and tutors help to distract yourself and calm you down a lot.

Pros
  • well organised
  • formative
  • makes you autonomous
Cons
  • None
Default avatar
Francesca
19
Female
United Kingdom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad

AHA review

Jul 9, 2023

I absolutely loved Art History Abroad. It was six weeks of learning about the most wonderful art, eating heavily food, and being with the best people. Being in Italy was amazing and it was a very lucky thing to be lead through it by the best tutors. I always felt very at home there because of that. There was a fabulous mix between hilarious evenings/ moments and wonderfully inspiring lessons. I feel I have learnt so much more about the world. I just loved it all and could not recommend it more.

Pros
  • Learning more about art history
  • Meeting great friends
  • Developing more knowledge about the world
Gelato in Italy
Default avatar
Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad

Trip of a Lifetime

Jul 3, 2023

From start to finish this is a unique and fantastic experience. The tutors are friendly and knowledgeable - supporting you every step of the way. This is a course for people who want to broaden their minds in the most beautiful of countries - La Bella Italia! The course and days are very well paced to enable you to soak up Italian life. From rowing gondolas in Venice to a private tour of the Vatican you will be amazed everyday. This experience made my gap year, I just wish I could do it again! Thank you AHA!

Pros
  • Friendly and knowledgeable tutors
  • Excellent food and convivial experiences
  • Unique insight into Italian culture and art history
Cons
  • None !
Default avatar
Isa
19
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad

BEST SUMMER EVER !!

Jul 3, 2023

Words cannot accurately express how much I adored these weeks with AHA. I made lifelong friends that I will soon be traveling across seas to visit, vastly expanded my knowledge of the classical arts, truly learned to love and understand my authentic self, and ate some of the best food I have in years. Our lovely tutors became family--with them we were confident asking any kind of question about the imposing architecture or magnificent art, learned the most insanely unhinged historic stories, felt completely safe roaming the most vibrant streets of the world singing at the top of our lungs, and enjoyed good chats over dinner and endless laughter. This course has given me those wholly happy memories you can always look back on whenever the going might get tough, whilst also giving me that undeniable feeling that I am now ready to conquer the next stage of life.

Pros
  • Special, exclusive, early access (and even extra viewing time) to super busy spots
  • Showing us the absolute hidden gems of Italy (never would have seen some of these breathtaking spots without AHA's expertise)
  • The support from tutors and peers was incomparable (the people are the pro!!)
Cons
  • The pacing and feeling of the trip changed depending on the city and the tutors
Getting tirimisu almost everywhere!
Visiting Angi's home in San Gimignano!! GORGEOUS vineyard, dogs, family, food, and swimming
A completely empty Vatican!! Our magical morning tour
Default avatar
Isobel
20
Female
United Kingdom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Art History Abroad | Summer Gap Courses in Italy

Life changing!!

May 21, 2023

I first travelled with AHA in 2020, having won a scholarship from their writing competition. Within the first few hours of meeting the students and tutors, we felt like a close-knit group of friends, excited to explore Italy together. AHA brings together kind, curious and creative people from all over the world. We learn from each other and challenge each other to see Italian culture in a new light. For instance, our head tutor Nick inspired us to sketch everything we saw, regardless of our artistic skill. The tutors are so knowledgeable and encouraging, so you never feel stupid asking questions. The highlight of every day is supper. The group gathers together to drink wine and enjoy Italy’s famous food. We freely drink and chat and laugh with tutors as well as students. I still keep in touch with many friends I met in Italy, through AHA. I left the trip feeling nourished by art history and confident in my academic potential. I hope you decide to go! I joined AHA again in 2020 and had an equally fun time with a different group.

Pros
  • Wonderful people to share experiences with
  • Excellent organisation and central hotels.
  • Knowledgable and engaging tutors who bring Italian culture to life
Cons
  • Very packed schedule- might get tired
  • Lunch/supper not included in AHA fee
Sketching architecture together in Rome
Boat trip in Sicily
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Programs

Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Alexa Lane

Program
6-week Gap Year Course in Italy | Art History Abroad
Alexa's time with AHA motivated her to continue her study of art history, architecture, and economics at Middlebury College. She hopes to return to Europe as soon as possible to continue her studies!
Alexa poses with friends in front of a colorful backdrop

Why did you choose this program?

I chose Art History Abroad because I had never tried anything like it before. I'm a big believer of throwing yourself into the deep end and learning how to swim. So, I thought there couldn't be a better way to spend my gap semester than in a new country learning about a subject I had barely even heard of.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I did not go through a program provider or university to find AHA. I met the director, Nick, at a gap year fair at my high school during my senior year and figured out the rest on my own! The AHA team was incredibly flexible and responsive (despite the time difference), and I was able to sort everything out myself.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One piece of advice I would give to a new student would be to ask as their tutors as many questions as they can possibly think of. All of the AHA tutors are incredibly knowledgable and they want to cater the course to your needs and interests. They also have great stories to share. All you have to do is ask!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I would say there isn't an average day in the sense that you are doing the same thing every day. However most days follow a similar structure. We would meet as a group at around 9 am every morning and head off to our first lesson of the day. The lessons varied in location from church, to museum, to a public square. Sometimes we would take a cooking class, a private tour of a collection or cathedral, or were taught how to make Venetian masks! Around noon we would break for lunch and meet up again around 1pm for another lecture. After that, we would be free until dinner when we would meet usually as a whole group and discuss the day! Unless we had a special event, we were free for the evening, but often I would find myself hanging out with the tutors and other group members all night.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was probably most nervous about being away from home for so long. My time with AHA was the longest I had ever been away from my friends and family and didn't know anyone else going on the program. But as soon as I met the tutors and some of the other students on the trip, I knew I was going to be completely fine. I think my views on homesickness changed because I no longer worry about being alone in the same way. Being away from home for some long allowed me to develop the confidence in myself to be able to chat with anyone or become friends with anyone.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Henry Tudor-Pole

Program
Art History Abroad | The Autumn European Gap Semester Program
Job Title
Tutor
Henry has studied art at the Royal Drawing School, London, St. John's College, Oxford, and the Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa. He continues to do so as a tutor with Art History Abroad.

What is your favorite travel memory?

It's got to be attending the New Generation Festival in Florence, an extravagant three-night celebration of music and theatre, with young performers and a young audience soaking up the atmosphere on the grounds of the Corsini Palace. One night, the concert went on to the Ognissanti church, and I don't think anyone sitting in that magical, Baroque interior was left with a dry eye.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working with AHA has significantly developed me as a person in several respects. Of course, it has deepened my awareness of art and my sense of the past, but it has also built my confidence in small ways that are manifested in everyday life at home, which can be hard to describe. I am better at speaking to an audience and bringing the subject to life.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One student became fascinated with Dante's Divine Comedy after encountering it on an AHA course and told the story back to me in a way that made me see it afresh. He then went on to take up cookery and invented a meal based on Dante's journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise! I can't imagine a more original interpretation.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would choose the Southern Italy program, for the chance to learn more about the Kingdom of Sicily. I am fascinated by the hotbed of cultural exchange that was twelfth-century Sicily, and also by the sultry chaos of modern Palermo and Naples. There is an epic, romantic quality to the south that I find appealing. The food is not bad, either.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

To be part of a team like AHA's is a constant source of delight. I can't imagine many companies are so warm and decent at every level of the organization, and I feel lucky to be a part of it. I felt proud of the team when we got together in London to see another tutor playing a gig in Shepherd's Bush.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Probably it's to do with giving students the opportunity to grow in their own ways and according to their own will and not along with a set of predetermined rails. The company sets up the conditions in which students can have an enriching experience, at which point it is exciting to see what they are able to make of it.

Professional Associations

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