The program is a three-week, 6 credits, study abroad experience in Materiality and Meaning in Art. The course will explore the relationship between art, materials, and processes, examining both medieval and modern artistic practices. Students will have the opportunity to study historical works and techniques while considering how materiality, craftsmanship, and artistic processes continue to inform contemporary art.
We will be splitting our time between Dublin and London, with a two-day stay in Edinburgh. Throughout the program, students will visit museums, historic sites, cathedrals, and other significant cultural locations that will help connect our coursework to the art and architecture of each region. These experiences will provide opportunities to engage directly with historical objects, materials, and artistic processes while developing a deeper understanding of their influence on contemporary art practices.
The program is designed to be both academically engaging and culturally immersive, allowing students to explore the rich artistic histories of Ireland, Scotland, and England while making connections between historical and contemporary approaches to art and materiality.
Our itinerary for Summer 2027 tentatively includes the following site visits, museum visits, and excursions:
Dublin, Ireland
Visit to Christ Church Cathedral, an iconic medieval landmark in the heart of Dublin
Visit to the National Museum of Ireland, to trace artistic development from the Stone Age through Early Medieval Ireland
Excursion to Glendalough and County Wicklow, to explore the 6th-century monastic site and its Celtic High Crosses and to experience a sheepdog demonstration and meet with a local farmer
Visit to Dublin Castle, including the State Apartments, Chapel Royal and medieval undercroft
Visit to the Chester Beatty Library, renowned for its international collection of manuscripts and historic artifacts
Walking tour of Trinity College and a visit to the Book of Kells exhibition to view one of Ireland's most celebrated medieval illuminated manuscripts
Visit to the Dublin City Council Arts Office to learn about the city’s community arts landscape
Take a scenic coastal hike along the Howth Cliff path outside Dublin
Free time for exploring the city and nearby sites
Group dinner at a historic Dublin pub
Edinburgh, Scotland
Visit to the National Museum of Scotland to view treasures from the prehistoric era up through the modern period of Scotland's history
Take a scenic hike at Arthur’s Seat in the city center
Free time for exploring the city
London, England
Visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts, and design, to examine treasures of sacred and secular art from around Europe
Visit to the British Museum, the world's largest museum and the temporary home of the 70-meter-long, 1000-year-old Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066
Visit the Tate Modern, Britain’s gallery of international modern art
Excursion to Canterbury Cathedral, the famous medieval pilgrimage destination and site of some of the most significant Gothic architecture and medieval stained glass windows in England
Excursion to Ely Cathedral, a majestic Gothic cathedral notable for its 14th-century Octagon tower and site of the Stained Glass Museum; participation in a hands-on creative workshop led by a professional glass artist
Free time for exploring the city and nearby sites
