Santa Reparata was founded in 1970 as the Santa
Reparata Graphic Art Centre by Dennis Olsen, Giuseppe
Gattuso and Michael Schnorr, three artists who wished
to provide a professional workshop for professional
printmakers and students. Within a year there were
students from various parts of Europe and North
America, contract printing for local artists, and open
studio space available for professionals in need of a
sympathetic workspace for creating prints. At the same
time the workshop became a resource for several
American colleges who sent instructor-led groups to
study during the summer months.
Though modest in size by today’s standards the Centre attracted an impressive array of artists, many of whom are well known both nationally and internationally. Over the years Santa Reparata provided workspace and contract printing for Antonio, Zavier and Raffaele Bueno, Sandro Chia, Renato Ranaldi, Giovanni Ragusa, James McGarrell, and many others.
By the end of the 1990’s the student population had outgrown the studio and the “Graphic Art Centre” was transformed into the Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) with moves to much larger facilities, first in 2000 and finally in 2008 to its present location on Via San Gallo 53r. The school increased its academic year and summer offerings to include the numerous areas that now comprise a much broader curriculum of Studio Arts (painting, drawing, photography, book arts, printmaking), Liberal Arts (art history, history, museum studies, cinema, literature, Italian language), and Design (fashion, textiles, jewelry and graphic design). The San Gallo studios and classrooms are now among the finest in Italy, and the list of schools that have worked directly with SRISA now numbers over 40 with summer enrollment that can reach over 300.
In spite of those numbers SRISA remains a place congenial to both professional artists/teachers, and the students who want a personalized and friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy the tremendous cultural resource that is Florence, Italy. With its 40 year history SRISA has become a part of the cultural fabric of the city, with regular exhibitions, service projects, and continued strong ties to the artistic community of Florence.
Though modest in size by today’s standards the Centre attracted an impressive array of artists, many of whom are well known both nationally and internationally. Over the years Santa Reparata provided workspace and contract printing for Antonio, Zavier and Raffaele Bueno, Sandro Chia, Renato Ranaldi, Giovanni Ragusa, James McGarrell, and many others.
By the end of the 1990’s the student population had outgrown the studio and the “Graphic Art Centre” was transformed into the Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) with moves to much larger facilities, first in 2000 and finally in 2008 to its present location on Via San Gallo 53r. The school increased its academic year and summer offerings to include the numerous areas that now comprise a much broader curriculum of Studio Arts (painting, drawing, photography, book arts, printmaking), Liberal Arts (art history, history, museum studies, cinema, literature, Italian language), and Design (fashion, textiles, jewelry and graphic design). The San Gallo studios and classrooms are now among the finest in Italy, and the list of schools that have worked directly with SRISA now numbers over 40 with summer enrollment that can reach over 300.
In spite of those numbers SRISA remains a place congenial to both professional artists/teachers, and the students who want a personalized and friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy the tremendous cultural resource that is Florence, Italy. With its 40 year history SRISA has become a part of the cultural fabric of the city, with regular exhibitions, service projects, and continued strong ties to the artistic community of Florence.
HISTORY
Santa Reparata International School of Art, SRISA - Via
San Gallo, 53r Florence Italy, info@santareparata.org
Copyright (c) 2010
