San Gemini Preservation Studies : SGPS Italy Conservation Summer School Various Dates
1 June 2026 - 08:00 - 7 August 2026 - 17:00
Free
San Gemini Preservation Studies : SGPS Italy Conservation Summer School
We are excited to announce that applications are now open for our Summer 2026 field school in Italy, part of the San Gemini Preservation Studies Program (SGPS). The deadline for applications is March 15, 2026.
Now in its 27th year, SGPS has welcomed alumni from over 170 universities and colleges worldwide. Our program is dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage, offering students the unique opportunity to study and travel in Italy while gaining hands-on experience in restoration and conservation.
Our program is designed for students in fields such as Conservation of Cultural Objects, Museum Studies, Architecture, Art History, History, Archaeology, and Anthropology.
Session One: June 1 – 26
- Building Restoration – “Touching the Stones”
Restoration of Traditional Masonry Buildings & Sketching and Analyzing Historic Buildings (includes lectures and field-based restoration projects) - Archaeological Ceramics Analysis and Restoration of Archaeological Ceramics in Italy (includes lectures and hands-on restoration workshops)
- Book Bindings and Archival Conservation
Introduction to the History and Craft of Bookbinding & Preventive Conservation of Books and Archival Materials (includes lectures and practical workshops)
Intersession Program: June 29 – July 8
Preservation Tour ( 10 day) – Florence, Siena, and Rome
Visit active restoration sites, restoration institutes, laboratories, and places of cultural interest, with a focus on the urban and historical development of each city.
Visit active restoration sites, restoration institutes, laboratories, and places of cultural interest, with a focus on the urban and historical development of each city.
Session Two: July 13 – August 7
- Paper Restoration
Introduction to the Restoration and Conservation of Paper in Artworks and Archival Documents (includes lectures and restoration workshops) - Traditional Painting Techniques
Materials and Methods of Traditional Painting and Art Restoration Issues
(includes lectures and painting workshops) - Preservation Theory and Practice in Italy
Restoration Theory, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues
(includes lectures and group discussions)
Field Projects:
- Restoration of Porta Tuderte (13th-century city gate)
- Analysis of medieval buildings in San Gemini as part of an urban study
- Restoration of classical archaeological ceramics from the Parco del Colosseo in Rome
- Conservation of historical archival materials from the Historic Archives of the City of San Gemini (dating from the 14th to the 19th century)
For further information and applications: