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London & Florence: Arts in Context

London, England & Florence, Italy

Location

London

Long an international center of commerce and politics, London has attracted immigrants and visitors from around the world. London is a city that has evolved architecturally throughout its history. As they tour neighborhoods and visit museums, students on the London & Florence Program survey the relationship between the city’s historical development and its architectural design. Course work in London includes an individual project related to the city's architecture. Theatre is also a key part of the course work in London. For centuries, British drama has been considered the best in the world. The program examines this renowned theatrical tradition and its role in the society. Students attend numerous theatre performances at many venues, from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Barbican Theatre to the Fringe theatres of Greater London. They meet theatre professionals, talk to critics and scholars, and learn how the business of theatre operates.

Florence

In Florence, students see Renaissance art and architecture at almost every turn. Carefully preserved over the centuries, Florence presents a harmonious union of medieval and Renaissance architecture. With the guidance of their instructors, students view famous art works in galleries, museums, churches and public buildings. They examine Florentine architecture and travel to other Italian cities, such as Rome and Siena. Courses consider the influence of Italian history on the formation and preservation of its art. Students also experience modern Italian culture as they study colloquial Italian and live in Italian homes.

London & Florence: Arts in Context

Meghan Beltmann It wasn’t reading Dante on the steps of Santa Croce in Florence, feeding the pigeons in Piazza San Marco, or learning to make pasta carbonara from my Italian host family (who I'm still in touch with!). It wasn’t seeing London from one of those famous double-decker buses, climbing on the bronze lions in Trafalgar Square, or touring the Globe Theatre before going to their new production of Romeo and Juliet. But, somehow, all of these experiences, when combined with countless others on the ACM London & Florence Program, opened my eyes to new possibilities and added an international perspective to my studies and my life. Before going on this program, I had barely traveled outside the Midwest; now I have visited more than a dozen countries and have a career in international education, so I can help other college students have meaningful study abroad experiences, like the one I had with ACM.

—Meghan Beltmann, London & Florence, Spring 2004

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Who we are

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) is a consortium of 13 independent, liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.