Venice Biennale

Explore one of the world’s oldest international art exhibitions – Art Biennale in Venice – showcasing contemporary artwork from around the world.

• Enrich your artistic perspective by viewing the work of international artists.
• Visit notable museums in Venice and get inspired by the creative energy of the city.
• Upon your return to RIT in fall 2026, develop an original creative work that reflects your conceptual and aesthetic response to some of the world’s most celebrated contemporary art.

No Italian language is required - the program is taught in English.

Travel to Venice, Italy, to attend the world-renowned Venice Biennale—one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world. While in Venice, you’ll be immersed in cutting-edge global contemporary artwork and architecture, engaging with pieces that respond to today’s most pressing cultural, environmental, and political challenges.

Venice Biennale spans national pavilions in the historic Giardini, expansive installations in the Arsenale, and dozens of pop-up exhibitions throughout the city. With participating artists from over 60 countries, you will gain firsthand exposure to a rich diversity of creative expression—painting, sculpture, performance, film, photography, installation, and more.

During Biennale, Venice itself becomes a dynamic learning environment, offering lessons in sustainability, urban preservation, and the role of art in shaping public consciousness. You will also participate in guided tours, educational workshops, and engage with a global network of artists, curators, and scholars.

Upon returning to RIT in the fall 2026 semester, you will enroll in a follow-up course where you’ll develop original work inspired by your experience. This reflective practice allows you to translate global inspiration into personal expression, responding to the Biennale’s themes, the city of Venice, and the ideas you encountered through a critical and creative lens.

Course Term: Summer travel, followed by a fall 2026 course in Rochester
Travel Dates: June 28-July 6, 2026
Credits: 3

Course Details:

• STAR-550: Topics in Studio Art: Venice Biennale (undergrad)
• STAR-650: Topics in Studio Art:  Venice Biennale (grad)
• ITDI-300H Honors Travel Seminar: Venice Biennale (Honors)
  
  Students will travel to Italy in the summer of 2026, followed by a fall 2026 course in Rochester.

No course pre-reqs. No Italian language required. Open to all undergraduate majors and graduate students, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above (priority will be given to 2nd year students and above, and students with a 3.0 GPA or above).

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available here soon.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

• Additional Scholarships
  RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Make sure you are checking scholarship eligibility requirements and take note of scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “Venice Biennale” to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs

Contact

Elizabeth Kronfield
College of Art and Design
edkfaa@rit.edu

Shanti Thakar
College of Art and Design
shanti.thakur@rit.edu