FOUNDATION YEAR PROGRAM
HYBRID PROGRAM
5th of January - 24 of July 2026
WINTER INTENSIVE INTAKE
02 February 2026 - 31st of July 2026
FALL INTAKE
28 September 2026 - 4 June 2027
One-Year Foundation Program:
The One-Year Program (Foundation Year) is the first year of our Three-Year Diploma Program. It may be taken independently as a standalone One-Year Certificate Program, with the option to continue directly into the full Three-Year Diploma Program.
Serving as the foundation of a professional art education, this year offers highly individualized and customized training in small groups. Our professors, top-level experts in the classical academic tradition, meet each student at their current level of preparation and guide them through a carefully structured learning sequence.
The curriculum progresses from drawing and painting basic geometric forms, to still life, plaster casts, and ultimately portraiture. Through this systematic approach, students acquire the essential applied skills needed to begin building a strong and competitive portfolio.
Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, students receive the Certificate in Visual Arts and become fully eligible for admission to the second year of the Three-Year Diploma Program (Diploma in Visual Arts).
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Painting
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Drawing
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Artistic Anatomy
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Composition
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Technique and Technology of Painting
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Color Science
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Sketches
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Plein-Air Practice
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Museum Practice
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Constructive Drawing
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Art History
Admission & Learning Approach
Students are accepted into the One-Year Foundation Program regardless of their level of preparation or prior artistic experience. As part of the admissions process, professors review each applicant’s portfolio not for evaluation, but simply to become familiar with the student’s background and current level of artistic skill. At this stage, the portfolio serves purely as an introduction rather than a criteria for acceptance.
However, specific portfolio requirements do apply for applicants seeking entry into more advanced programs, such as the Master Program or specialized courses like the Advanced Portraiture Workshop.
Our unique teaching method, focused on constructive approach and applied knowledge, individual instruction in small-group setting (12 students maximum per group) enables students to progress rapidly and confidently through the curriculum.
Program Structure & Study Modes
The Foundation Year Program is the same program in every format, offering the identical curriculum, the equal number of academic hours, and the same Certificate in Visual Arts upon completion. What differs is only the mode and timing of study, allowing students to choose the format that best fits their circumstances.
Students may complete the Foundation Year in one of three ways:
1. Entirely In-Person - Fall Intake
Begins each September, follows the traditional full-year schedule, and includes all core classes and studio training on-site.
2. Entirely In-Person - Winter Intensive Intake
Covers the identical curriculum and total academic hours as the September intake, but delivered in a shorter, more concentrated timeframe.
This format includes additional evening classes during certain months and provides the same level of instructor contact and hands-on training.
3. Hybrid Mode - Starts Each January
A combination of online and in-person study, following the exact Foundation Year curriculum:
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Online Segment (January–April) — self-paced study with weekly assignments, weekly feedback, and monthly Zoom meetings
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In-Person Segment (May–July) — intensive studio training covering the advanced components of the program
Regardless of the chosen study mode, all graduates of the Foundation Year are eligible to enter the second year of the Three-Year Diploma Program.
Please note that the second year and third year are offered exclusively following the Fall intake calendar.
The flexibility to choose between Fall Intake, Winter Intensive Intake, or Hybrid Mode applies only to the Foundation Year
(first year) of the program.
For Tuition Fees, Deadlines & Policies please see this page
The Florence Classical Arts Academy reserves the right to make changes in schedule, teaching staff or studio location when necessary.
