Overview
Why study social change in the Czech Republic?
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, like COVID-19, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Studying in formerly communist Czech Republic, you’ll learn how art and creative dissent have played a decisive role in shaping social and political change. You will live in picturesque Prague and explore the country’s rich artistic heritage and contemporary art scene and consider the relationship between art, politics, and society. You will also take part in workshops on ceramics, stop-motion animation, or architecture, and in civic initiatives for building local communities. You’ll travel to Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and Bohemia or Moravia, to explore mountain villages, visit arts centers, meet activists, and create traditional art.
Your two homestays—in Prague and in the rural villages of Moravia or Bohemia—will allow you to observe diverse social realities and learn about the country’s communist history and post-socialist transition.
During the program’s final month, you will complete an Independent Study Project (ISP) on a topic related to the program theme. You may also opt to produce creative work, such as visual arts and photography, or a short story or theater script inspired by your experiences.
Highlights
- Study with a dynamic community of visual, performing, and literary artists.
- Explore the challenges artists and communities face today in Central Europe.
- Live in Prague and visit Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and Bohemia or Moravia.
- Choose to do either an arts-based or field-based research project.
Prerequisites
None. For visual arts, physical theater, and creative writing, a background in the area of study is highly recommended. For all students, previous survey courses in European history or arts history are recommended but not required.