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Picture yourself in the south of France, immersed in plein air painting, the exploration of Europe’s finest museums, while living in your very own artist colony. This is European Art Classroom, Proctor’s term-long art immersion program. During the winter and spring terms, eight students and two Proctor faculty dedicate themselves to the study of fine arts and European culture. The group resides together in a beautiful private home where they learn about group living, cook meals together, and hone their art skills in the spacious art studio and on excursions to local sites, all while studying literature, art history, and language classes.  

While based in Aix in Provence, France, European Art Classroom travels to three other European cities to further explore cultural and artistic themes. The program takes full advantage of Europe’s finest art museums, theater, musical performances, and old-world charm. This program’s vibrant combination of art, travel, and study inevitably leads to heightened aesthetic sensibilities and personal discovery.

European Art Classroom

Proctor Academy European Art Classroom: Immersive art program in France, blending art, culture, and exploration

Creating is powerful; however, what I’ve found even more important is harnessing the ‘empty moments.’ Moments when I am not creating, but instead simply observing or reflecting. Empty moments are hard to come by when navigating our busy lives, but how can we learn, collaborate, and create if we aren’t also reflecting? I am forever grateful to Proctor’s off campus programs for embracing empty moments. - Vienna ‘20

 

Meet the Instructors

David and Jen Fleming have been art teachers and professional artists for more than 30 years, and have worked at Proctor since 2001. Dave and Jen launched European Art Classroom in 2012 and have lived, taught, and created art abroad with Proctor students for the past decade.  

Courses and Credits

Students enrolled in European Art Classroom receive the following course credits: 

  • European History (1 Social Science credit)
  • European Literature (1 English credit)
  • French Language (1 French credit)
  • European Art I: Studio Art Emphasis (1 Art credit)
  • European Art II: Sketchbook (1 Art credit)
  • European Living Skills (1 Skills credit)

European Art Classroom Links 

 

Contact Info

To learn more about European Art Classroom, contact program coordinator Rosanna Eubank. 

European Art Classroom: A Day in the Life
European Art Classroom: A Day in the Life

As European Art Classroom off-campus program participants move through their term in Aix-en-Provence, France (and beyond!), Meg '26 offers a window into their daily rhythms.

European Art Classroom: The Artist's Journey Begin
European Art Classroom: The Artist's Journey Begin

Living alongside program directors Dave and Jen Fleming, eight Proctor Academy students are creating their own "artist colony" in Aix-en-Provence, France. Creating art and exploring their surroundings blends seamlessly with art history class and literature discussions at a local café and evenings filled with shared meals and music. Read more as Georgia '25 reflects on their first week together!

European Art Classroom: Student Perspectives on a Term Abroad
European Art Classroom: Student Perspectives on a Term Abroad

As Proctor's European Art Classroom Winter 2024-2025 program concludes, students reflect on their eight weeks living and creating art in Aix-en-Provence, sharing memorable experiences from their travels to Paris, Madrid, and Florence and highlighting how this immersive cultural and artistic journey has influenced their perspectives.

The Magic of Proctor’s European Off-Campus Programs
The Magic of Proctor’s European Off-Campus Programs

Picture this: Students confidently navigating the streets of Segovia, Spain, or setting up an easel along the Mediterranean coast in France. Before my recent visit, I thought I understood what Proctor’s European Programs offered. I was wrong – they deliver so much more than I ever imagined. 

European Art Classroom: Weekly Rhythm in Aix
European Art Classroom: Weekly Rhythm in Aix

From painting en plein air overlooking the Mediterranean to walking the same streets as Van Gogh in Arles, European Art Classroom students continue to immerse themselves in the artistic heritage of Provence while developing their own creative practice. Join Milo '25 as he shares a glimpse into a typical week of living and creating for European Art Classroom students!

European Art Classroom: Settling Into Our Provençal Rhythm
European Art Classroom: Settling Into Our Provençal Rhythm

As eight European Art Classroom students acclimate to life in their new home away from home alongside program directors Dave and Jen Fleming, they have begun to navigate the new culture they are surrounded by while finding unexpected comfort in unfamiliar surroundings.

Off-Campus Programs: A Step Beyond Comfort
Off-Campus Programs: A Step Beyond Comfort

Off-campus programs at Proctor represent our belief that transformative learning occurs when students exist in that delicate space between comfort and challenge, with one foot firmly planted outside their comfort zone.

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