ARTIS TEACHING ABROAD PROGRAMS
(ARTIS TAP)

This page is designed specifically for College and University art and art history instructors, as well as, private art instructors who are interested in teaching their students on an ARTIS study Abroad Program.

The TAP program is set up for college Art and Art History instructors (as well as independent instructors) who would like to teach their students overseas. Over a dozen US colleges and universities participate in our fully hosted summer study abroad programs.

For those of you who are new or have not traveled with ARTIS before, I would like to cover some important points about our Teaching Abroad and Study Abroad programs. ARTIS is a nonprofit, 501 c(3) corporation set up to facilitate international teaching and studying opportunities for artists, college students and professors. One key way we do this is by working directly with college art departments and their instructors.

As an organization we set up and run summer study abroad programs free of charge for the home school. This means that we will fully host your department's programs without any cost to the college, art department or participating faculty member. Our motto is "you bring your students and we will do the rest".

This is how it works: when you, as an instructor, are interested in teaching overseas, you will decide what classes you want to teach and which ARTIS international program you would like to participate in. We have programs in Florence, Italy; China, Greece and Bali to chose from. ARTIS then provides you with customized posters and brochures detailing the ARTIS Study Abroad program. It will also include info about your course offering, the class description, course level and tuition cost for your school.

Students interested in participating in the summer study programs will register and pay tuition directly to your school, get credit and financial aid from your school, as they normally would when signing up for a summer course.

When six students are signed up for the study abroad program, ARTIS will take you, the instructor, over for free. This means that ARTIS will cover your entire program costs, which includes, round trip airfare, housing in furnished apartments, museum entrance fees, excursion and hotel costs, etc. When you have more than six students signed up for the program, then ARTIS will pay a stipend of $200 per student over six. You may also elect to take over another family member or faculty member when you have 12 people signed up.

Since your students are paying tuition directly to your school for the summer course, then, with most colleges, you should also get paid your summer salary for teaching the summer classes. It should count the same as if you were teaching a summer class on the home campus.

Since ARTIS is the hosting institution we handle all of the logistics for you, your department and students. All you need to do during the overseas programs is to teach your students, ARTIS will take care of all the rest. That means we provide RT airfare, housing, guided tours, additional free art history classes, classroom, studio space, out-of-town excursions, hotel stays, ground transportation etc. In brief, everything and more of what you would expect from a top-of-the-line study abroad program.

How much does it cost the students? Naturally your students will need to pay the ARTIS program fees for participating in a study abroad program. The good news is: the program fees for all ARTIS programs average about mid-range when compared across the board with other similar month long study abroad programs. The main difference between an ARTIS study abroad program and other programs is that all ARTIS programs are focused on the arts, are professionally organized and run by a staff of MFA instructors, on a full time ongoing basis.

To participate in a TAP program for the summer of 2008-9 you will need to fill out and send in the application form found at the back of the ARTIS TAP Start-up Guide. Spring registration will be from April 1st to May 15th for 2008. If you have not traveled with ARTIS before then you will need to get approval from your department chair concerning which country and ARTIS program you would like to participate in. You will also need to decide which class you will be teaching while overseas. All registration for 2008-9 will be on a first-come-first-served basis, so it is in your best interest to apply this Spring. There will be a Fall registration starting around Sept. 1st for any remaining places left on the programs.

ARTIS TAP programs are also available for independent instructors as well. Independent instructors can elect to teach a workshop overseas. Participants can be recruited from local art clubs and organizations, colleagues, friends, etc. Students don't necessary have to come from colleges. The same benefits apply to independent instructors, with six students signed up you can travel for free.

Feel free to contact Program Director David Renfrow, with any of your questions or concerns. He can help you decide which program is best for you and your department, the type of classes to teach overseas, etc. He can be reached at 1-800-232-6893.