Study Trips
Winter 2025 Faculty-Led Study Trips
Faculty-led study trips are credit-bearing courses taught by SAIC faculty where instruction takes place off-campus. Students can earn credits towards their degree completion and the off-campus study credit requirement. We are happy to announce the following three trips that will be running in winter 2025.
The Portable Studio: Contemporary Art Ecologies in India
Faculty: Shaurya Kumar, professor (Printmedia) and Nora Annesley Taylor, professor, Alsdorf Professor in South Asian Art History (Art History, Theory, and Criticism)
Dates: Jan 1–22, 2025*
*Dates subject to change
Credits: 3 credits Studio (3000 level) AND/OR 3 credits Art History (4000 level)
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Location: India (Mumbai, Aurangabad, Varanasi)
Travel advisory: Indian government has recently suspended entry to the country on tourist, business and medical visas for Chinese nationals. As a result, citizens of People's Republic of China will not be able to take part in this trip.
This class will explore the contemporary art worlds of India, starting in Mumbai, the site of India’s first modernist movement, the Bombay Progressives, and visit world class galleries and museums in the former colonial district of Colaba. We will then tour the 8th-12th century cave temples of Elephanta, and even older caves of Ellora and Ajanta (6th century BC–6th century CE), which inspired art of South-east Asia, China, Korea and Japan, and post-independence artists of India. The trip will culminate in Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, where students will be artists-in-residence at internationally known Kriti Residency and spend several days making art with local materials. At each site, students will participate in hands-on workshops, walking tours, studio visits, scholarly lectures and meet people engaged in making contemporary art outside of white cube spaces. Special emphasis will be given on artists who work on issues of individual and collective identities, and work on and articulating a point of view through personal recording in a chosen medium will come together in a gallery exhibition/presentation in Varanasi where students will be artists-in-residence in an internationally known residency and art center.
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To learn more about The Portable Studio: Contemporary Art Ecologies in India study trip please join Study Abroad and Faculty trip leaders at one of the scheduled info sessions.
VIRTUAL
Friday, September 13
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Watch RecordingIN-PERSON
Thursday, October 10
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Location: Sharp, 817 -
Tuition: SAIC tuition per credit hour (3 or 6 credits)
Estimated program fee: $3,850
Program fee includes all meals (unless otherwise indicated), all accommodation and transportation during the trip, all entrance fees to cultural sites and other course curriculum-related expenses. Program fee does not include airfare and personal expenses.
Airfare: Approx. $1,000–$1,500
Airfare estimated price is based on flights leaving from Chicago to Mumbai and may vary if a student is traveling from elsewhere. Airfare fee is not included in the program fee.
Arrival date: Students leaving from the US will need to plan to leave on December 30, 2024. Due to time difference, it will take two days to reach Mumbai from the US. All students must arrive on January 1 to have time to acclimate to the time difference and recover from the travel.
Student Testimonials:
"The access to unique experiences was astounding. We visited a Buddhist monastery, a master weaver's studio, and a conversation with the local artists-to name only a few excursions. The faculty and local guide went out of their way to cater to the students' interests."
"Challenging, but also relaxed enough to take in the sights and sounds. The most rewarding trip I've ever been on! You get out of it what you put into it. Faculty and local guide were outstanding."
"The two incredible instructors are the highlight of the trip. Both of them are very knowledgable of the sites we visit and they foster a very respectful environment for our discussions and critiques throughout our trip. Shaurya is a great teacher who genuinely cares about his students. Nora's enthusiasm for East Asian art was evident. She was always available for the students and provided support for their academic or personal concerns."
Textiles & Artistic Practices in Peru
Faculty: Pamela Vanderlinde, Assistant Professor, Adjunct (Fashion Design) and Anke Loh, Professor (Fashion Design)
Dates: Jan 3–20, 2025*
*Dates subject to change
Credits: 3 credits Studio (3000 level)
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Location: Peru (Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Santa Teresa)
Join our trip to Peru to discover a unique experience while gaining insight into South America's large tradition of textile crafts as well as other artistic practices. In addition to our in-depth study of textiles, we will also concentrate on art as a catalyst for intercultural exchange, focusing on the rich vibrant indigenous Quechuan communities of the Peruvian Highlands. During the course students will have a series of practicums focusing on backstrap weaving, service projects, ritualistic ceremonies, and interactions with local indigenous communities, as we will embrace cultural tourism as a means of inter-cultural exchange through our social interactions. Another focus is the pre-Hispanic archaeological sites located in the Sacred Valley, with a visit to Machu Picchu as a highlight.
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To learn more about Textiles & Artistic Practices in Peru study trip please join Study Abroad and Faculty trip leaders at one of the scheduled info sessions.
VIRTUAL
Tuesday, September 24
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Join via ZOOMIN-PERSON
Tuesday, October 1
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Room: Sullivan, 1210 -
Tuition: SAIC tuition per credit hour (3 credits)
Estimated program fee: Approx. $4,000
Program fee includes some meals (breakfast is provided at all hotels, as well as some group meals), all accommodation and transportation during the trip, all entrance fees to cultural sites, and other course curriculum-related expenses. Program fee does not include airfare and personal expenses.
Airfare: Approx. $1,000–$1,200
Airfare estimated price is based on flights leaving from Chicago to Lima and may vary if a student is traveling from elsewhere. Airfare fee is not included in the program fee.
Student Testimonials:
"To experience other cultures than the one I live in is a gift and helps me understand and contextualize globally. I learned so much from the fellow students on my trip (made forever friends) and was given the tools to further my practice and to learn the history of another country."
"The reflection at the end of the trip was very productive to me; a lot of important points came up. The trip has made me more aware of the mark I leave and my responsibility as a tourist, to be respectful of another culture and appreciative of the opportunities we had."
"Pam was excited and enthusiastic to share her experience in Peru with all of the students. She was very knowledgeable about the location and was able to share suggestions in regards to activities and places to eat while on the trip. "
Contemporary Art and Criticism: NYC
Faculty: Daniel Quiles, Associate Professor (Art History, Theory and Criticism) and Aliza Shvarts, Assistant Professor, Director of Low-Residency MFA (Performance)
Dates: Jan 5–17, 2025*
*Dates subject to change
Credits: 3 credits Studio (3000 level) AND/OR 3 credits Art History (4000 level)
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Despite rumors to the contrary, New York City remains the center of the contemporary art world, the place where a staggering quantity of art is produced, exhibited, purchased, interpreted, and evaluated. One way to make sense of the city’s complexity and energy is to trace the dynamic pathways through which art travels: the connections between artists, dealers, institutions, and critical voices. During two intensely busy weeks in January, this study trip will investigate the full range of contemporary art production in the city, visiting artists' studios, non-profit spaces and publications, residencies, commercial galleries, and major museums. Team-taught by artist/theorist Aliza Shvarts and critic/art historian Daniel Quiles, both of whom have lived and worked in New York, the class will benefit from numerous “behind-the-scenes” opportunities with artists, critics, curators, and dealers.
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To learn more about Contemporary Art and Criticism: NYC study trip please join Study Abroad and Faculty trip leaders at one of the scheduled info sessions.
VIRTUAL
Friday, September 20
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Join via ZOOMIN-PERSON
Thursday, October 3
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Location: Sharp, 817 -
Tuition: SAIC tuition per credit hour (3 or 6 credits)
Estimated program fee: Approx. $1,250
Program fee includes all on-the-ground transportation, all entrance fees to cultural sites, and other course curriculum-related expenses as well as a couple of group meals. Public transportation will be the main source of transportation and Metra Cards will be provided. Program fee does not include accommodation and airfare.
Accommodation: For this trip, students are not required to stay in the group accommodation and may find their own accommodation provided they can meet the faculty at the scheduled departure point each morning. A group accommodation option is arranged and students can opt to stay at the arranged group accommodation at the time of study trip registration. If students choose to stay in the arranged accommodation the cost of the hotel will be added to their program fee and billed through their SAIC student account. Selecting the arranged group accommodation option will give students the advantage of a lower nightly rate and convenience of being at the location where every day of the trip will start.
Group Accommodation: Students may opt to stay at Moxy Chelsea NYC hotel at 105 W. 28th St., New York, NY 10001. There are two options that students can select from:
- Accommodation in a double room with two twin beds and en-suite bathroom, sharing the room with another SAIC student—approx. $1,300
- Accommodation in a single king room with en-suite bathroom—approx. $2,400
Arrival time: Students should plan to arrive by the evening on January 5, 2025 and meet at the predetermined location and time for the first check-in meeting. Students who selected to stay with the group accommodations should arrive at the designated check-in day and time.
Airfare: Approx. $200-$400
Airfare estimated price is based on flights leaving from Chicago to New York and may vary if a student is traveling from elsewhere. Airfare fee is not included in the program fee.
Student Testimonials:
“There will be visits and experiences that confuse your understanding of art and what it means to be a cultural producer, but this should not worry you. Whether or not you have a sense of how to make it as a practicing artist, the trip has a wide scope and you will see that there is no linear path to 'success.' Talk to your classmates as much as you would want to talk to any of the artists or professors on this trip, you are all in this together.”
“The class was very challenging and rigorous as well as rewarding. Every day was full of activities, but we were also asked to apply critical thinking to every meeting with an artist or curator, not to accept things as they are presented to us and to question everything around us—from curatorial choices, how certain artists presented their practice, and so on. We were encouraged to ask questions and lead discussions which was extremely challenging but also very rewarding.”
“Daniel Quiles is one of THE BEST professors I have ever encountered, not only at SAIC but in my life. Daniel is extremely knowledgeable and very generous with his knowledge, which is a gift for any student who had the luck to have him as their professor. He truly encourages the student to practice critical thinking and to find their own point of view about things and to follow it. He was extremely pleasant on a personal level and made the hectic trip into a very positive and unique experience I will never forget. I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had to learn about the contemporary art scene in NY through his eyes and his experience."
Summer 2025 Faculty-Led Study Trips
Study Abroad and faculty-trip leaders are excited to announce study trips that are planned for the Summer 2025.
MAKING WITH FIRE—CLAY|CRAFT|ART in SCANDINAVIA
Faculty: Marie Herwald Hermann, Associate Professor (Ceramics) and Henning Martin-Thomsen, Senior Lecturer (AIADO)
Dates: June 15–30, 2025
*Dates are subject to change
Credits: 3 cr Studio (3000 level) and/ or 3 cr Liberal Arts (3000 level)
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Location: Copenhagen (Denmark), Southern Sweden
This study trip goes to Denmark, the southernmost of the three Scandinavian countries (Sweden and Norway are the other two). The title ‘MAKING WITH FIRE’ alludes to the particular focus on art, architecture, and design based on clay, whether it be ceramics or architecture, traditional or contemporary, all of which there is ample evidence of in Denmark. The primary base will be the capital, Copenhagen, consistently ranked as one of the world's most livable cities. We will also venture to the western parts of Denmark as well as to Southern Sweden for further explorations of clay and brick in all its manifestations, experience the varied landscapes and cities of the region, and study how culture, climate, landscape, and resources inform art, architecture, and design—on-site, in studios, in galleries, and in museums.
Highlights include the CLAY Museum in Middelfart, the brick cathedral in Ribe, one of the oldest towns in Scandinavia established in the 8th century, the renovated 13th-century brick Koldinghus Castle, the brand-new LEGO House in Billund by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels/BIG, filled with 25 million LEGO bricks and full of fun and exciting activities, and a visit to the equally new Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense (yes, the renowned author of fairy tales) by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. On the itinerary is also a one-day visit to Southern Sweden and the stellar St. Petri Church by brick master architect, Sigurd Lewerentz, and the city of Lund, founded around the year 990. In addition a string of studio, gallery, and museum visits will help us dive into the art, architecture, and design of Denmark. We will be creative and have a lot of fun including playing with LEGO bricks and enjoying the very special Midsummer Evening festivities with singing and bonfires—‘MAKING WITH FIRE’ as it were. You don’t want to miss out on this study trip.
Studio Residency in Burren, Ireland
Faculty: Peter Power, Associate Professor (Printmedia) and Paola Cabal, Associate Professor, Adjunct (Painting & Drawing)
Dates: June 7–28, 2025
*Dates are subject to change
Credits: 3 or 6 Studio credits (3000 level)
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Location: Ballyvaughan and Co Clare ( Ireland)
This three-week multi-disciplined studio-based residency will be in the Burren College of Art on the west coast of Ireland. The Burren is a UNESCO World Heritage Ecological Site known for its unique and dramatic landscape. Students have 24/7 access to their on-campus studios. The landscape and local culture will be engaged through hill walking, visits to noted archaeological sites, ceili dancing, and an overnight trip to the Aran Island, the most westerly inhabited location in Europe.
Transcultural Territories: Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia
Faculty: Prof. Mechtild Widrich, Chair (Art History, Theory, and Criticism) and Prof. Nora Annesley Taylor, Alsdorf Professor in South Asian Art History (Art History, Theory and Criticism)
Dates: June 14–28, 2025
*Dates are subject to change
Credits: 3 or 6 Art History credits (4000 level)
Course level: Undergraduate and Graduate
Location: Vienna (Austria), Brno (Czech Republic), Ljubljana (Slovenia)
This study trip will take us to Vienna (Austria), Brno (Czech Republic with a day trip to visit Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat, 1929), and Ljubljana (Slovenia), with a focus on transcultural territories from the 19th century to today. The goal of this study trip is to gain an understanding of the cultural production of an area that has been shaped by migration and shifting borders for centuries, from the Reformation to the Cold War and today’s new nationalist and ecological challenges. How is cultural space negotiated and how does art intervene into the world?
Since the end of Communism in 1989, the region that used to be on the cusp of both Western and Eastern Europe has undergone enormous shifts, particularly in the art world. Vienna, Brno, and Ljubljana, bound closely under the Austrian Empire for centuries, then disconnected for half a century by the Iron Curtain, share complex historical interactions even as they have internationalized their art scenes through the opening of new museums, artist residencies, and the emergence of avant-garde scenes. Starting with world-famous cultural exchange around 1900 (such as Ljubljana’s city plan by Plecnik, Vienna’s Secession, Brno’s Villa Tugendhat), after World War II these countries developed independent practices in performance, film, installations, and video, with Yugoslavia acting as a major player in the development of computer art, Czechoslovakia at the forefront of performance, and Austria pioneering body art, Actionism, expanded media, and social practices.
Today, these cities are vibrant, international, and idiosyncratic: the 1980s and ‘90s saw a crossover between music and art, while questions of the history of multi-culturalism shape a political intersectional art practice. The Austrian Empire consisted of many languages, religions, and ethnicities, while today’s region again shows a vibrant Jewish community, and a new generation of residents from Turkey, Serbia, Syria, Afghanistan, but also Asia and Africa. The city of Vienna is at the forefront of tackling issues of climate change, with architectural and ecological projects at the intersection of community engagement and infrastructural reform. This, of course, is not without tensions and challenges, in particular the question of which (shared) histories remain to be told. Comparable topics such as immigration, resettlement, architectural expansions, the legacy of the Cold War, and new urban master plans, will be the perfect lens to understand the relevance of contemporary art in opening up the discourse, pushing back against racism and marginalization of immigrant groups, and discussing projects that deal with belonging and the future of an ecological being-in-the-world.
Eligibility
All usual academic requirements must be met to register for a study trip. For example, to register for Art History credits, a student must have completed both parts of the Survey of Art History; for Liberal Arts, all English requirements must be completed. Undergraduate students must have completed 30 credits at the time of registration.
Some study trips may require an application and study trip leaders' approval before registration. If so, this will be listed on the trip description in Course Options.
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The following students are not eligible to register for study trips:
- First-year undergraduate students who have successfully completed less than 30 credits at SAIC at the time of registration (unless a particular study trip has been designated for first-year undergraduates)
- Students currently on disciplinary probation or subject to any other disciplinary sanction
- Students currently on academic probation
- Students who have received a "No Credit" grade for a previous study trip
The following students' study trip participation will be reviewed:
- Students who become subject to academic or disciplinary sanction after registration. Note: a student whose study trip registration is canceled due to this review must appeal to the Refund Review Committee for refund of fees.
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Registration for study trip is a multi-step process which takes place online via SAIC Self-Service. View a step-by-step guide to Study Trip registration.
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Pre-registration and Info Sessions for summer study trips begin at the start of spring term, and at the start of the fall term for winter study trips. Pre-register via SAIC Self-Service. Select the Other Services Non-Mobile tile on your laptop. This is NOT accessible on mobile phones.
Pre-registration is mandatory for all students who plan to register for a study trip. It is REQUIRED in order to be able to access the Step 2 on registration day (registration, deposit payment, waiver completion). If you are still researching options, pre-registration can help you decide—it is an easy process with important information that applies to all SAIC faculty-led study trips.
Completing Pre-registration does not register you for a study trip. By reviewing the details under each tab/section and indicating your agreement, you will be confirming your eligibility and accepting the terms of participation should you successfully register for a trip. It is a required step to move to Step 2 (registration, deposit payment, form completion). After successfully completing Pre-registration, you will receive an email notification with more details about Step 2.
Financial Aid Priority: Complete pre-registration by March 1 (for summer trips), and October 1 (for winter trips).
Pre-registration serves as the financial aid application. If you are eligible for financial aid, and you complete Pre-registration by the financial aid priority date above, Student Financial Services will review it and issue a response prior to study trip registration. Be aware that any funds awarded will not be available for use as your study trip deposit. Note that this is not the final deadline for financial aid applications. You can still submit an application after the priority deadline and SFS will review it as soon as possible.
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Register for study trip class, pay deposit, and complete a waiver and a Health Disclosure via SAIC Self-Service.
Register for Your Class
Online registration typically opens in the middle of March for summer study trips and middle of October for winter study trips.Registration Times
9:00 a.m. – Graduate students, post-baccalaureate students, seniors, and juniors
12:00 p.m. – SophomoresIn order to register, access PeopleSoft in the same way you would usually register for on-campus courses. Search by “Off-Campus Study Trip” subject area, and then enroll in the “Study Trip Reservation” class corresponding to the study trip you plan to take.
Credit type and the amount of credits (e.g., 3 credit studio and/or 3 credit art history) will be added to your registration later based on what type of credit you selected when completing Pre-registration (Step 1).
You must have already completed Pre-registration to get access to study trip registration (Step 2). Check your account in advance and clear any holds that may prevent your ability to register. A waiting list will be available at the Registrar's Office if the trip is already full.
Pay Your Study Trip Deposit
After you successfully register, you must pay a non-refundable $525 deposit within 24 hours in order to secure your place. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa, Discover, American Express, or MasterCard) or by electronic check (ACH) via the TransAct link in the My Account section of Self-Service. You may also pay by paper check or money order in US currency at:SAIC Bursar's Office: Sharp Building, 37 S. Wabash Ave., room 245
Important: As study trip deposits are nonrefundable, do not pay your deposit before you have successfully registered for the trip.
Complete Waiver and Health Disclosure Tabs in Self-Service
Each participant is required to read, understand, and sign a waiver within 24 hours of registering as well as complete a health disclosure. These must be submitted in SAIC Self-Service as soon as you make your deposit. Access them at Study Trips Step 2 under the Other Services Non-Mobile tile on your laptop. (Not accessible on a mobile phone). Read them in advance to become familiar with SAIC policies.Failure to make your non-refundable deposit and agree to each item outlined in the Waiver tab within 24 hours may drop you from the course.
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After registering, each participant must return to the Study Trip link in SAIC Self-Service to complete the My Travel Info tab by a specified due date soon after registration. Here is a copy of the tab:
Other information that must be submitted to Study Abroad:
- A copy of your passport (for international trips)
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Study Trips are different from on-campus SAIC courses. A lot of planning and preparation goes into facilitating each study trip, arrangements are frequently made 6-12 months ahead of the trip dates. To make the trips financially viable for the students and fiscally possible for SAIC a certain enrollment criteria must be met. If the trip experience a low enrollment SAIC reserves the right to cancel the trip. In case this happens, students who enrolled will have their deposits refunded.
Student is considered committed to participating in the study trip at the moment they complete deposit payment and the Legal Waiver and Health Disclosure (in Study Trip Step 2). After registration date students will not be able to drop from the course. If student decides to withdraw from the study trip they would need to go through the Academic Review Board appeal process which includes a request for refund. Depending when student requests to withdraw part of or all of the program fee may be forfeited. Study trip deposit is non-refundable.