San Germini Preservation Studies are accepting applications for their summer 2023 field school in Italy.

Now in its 23rd year, with alumni from over 170 colleges and universities worldwide, SGPS is dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage. They offer students the opportunity to study and travel in Italy where they acquire hands-on experience in restoration and conservation.   

Deadline for applications is March 15, 2023

Session One (June 5 - June 30) 

Building Restoration – Touching the Stones 

Restoration of Traditional Masonry Buildings and Sketching and Analyzing Historic Buildings 

(Program includes lectures and restoration field projects*) 

Archaeological Ceramics Restoration 

Analysis and Restoration of Archaeological Ceramics in Italy 

(Program includes lectures and restoration workshop*) 

Book Bindings Restoration 

Introduction to the History and Craft of Bookbindings

Introduction to the Preservation and Preventive Conservation of Books 

(Program includes lectures and practical workshop*) 

Session Two (July 17 - August 11) 

Paper Restoration 

Introduction to the Restoration and Conservation of Paper in Artwork and Archival Documents 

(Program includes lectures and restoration workshop*) 

Traditional Painting Techniques 

Traditional Materials, Methods of Painting and Art Restoration Issues 

(Program includes lectures and painting workshop) 

Preservation Theory and Practice in Italy 

Restoration Theory, Ethics and Issues 

(Program includes lectures and discussion) 

*Field Projects: 

• Restoration of Porta Tuderte (also known as the San Giovanni City Gate) (13th century) 
• Analysis of medieval buildings in San Gemini as part of an urban study of the city 
• Restoration and conservation of artifacts from the Parco del Colosseo and Museo delle Storie di Bergamo 
• Restoration of the Historic Archives of the Commune di San Gemini
• Archaeological research of the Roman Baths in the Ancient City of Carsulae 

Short Intersession Program (July 2 - 11) 

Preservation Tour – Italy 

A ten-day trip visiting Siena, Florence and Rome: places of cultural interest, with emphasis on the urban and historical development of each town, including specialized visits to places of interest to restorers.  

Application instructions: sangeministudies.info/application

SGPS is a program of the International Institute for Restoration and Preservation Studies, based in New York. An academic relationship has been established with West Virginia University that offers our students the opportunity to apply for and receive credits through the WVU Art History Department. Since COVID, they have established cooperation agreements with the Museo della Storie di Bergamo and the Parco del Colosseo to study and conserve artworks and archaeological objects held in their museums, as well as a collaboration with the Historic Archives of the Commune di San Gemini for SGPS participants to study and conserve archival documents. 

Our courses are open to students from various disciplines, both undergraduate and graduate. All lessons are taught in English.