Dates: May 21 to June 6, 2024
Program Overview
VIU's Greece: Arts and Culture Field School welcomes students to an international opportunity that provides an educational experience on the unique performing and visual arts history of the region. We'll interweave course curricula and intertwine assignments in this new study abroad focused on arts traditions that still resonate with society today.
This field school immerses students into Greek culture of the past and present. Visits to historic sites, museums, and outings to theatres and performances will reinforce the innovations of past artists while infusing students with an interdisciplinary perspective on the power of the arts to impact (if not propel) culture. We’ll heighten awareness about the value of the arts within culture, adventuring to key locations that have influenced the evolution of art, performance, and production.
By travelling the roads that Oedipus walked and by exploring the Theatre of Dionysus at the Acropolis in Athens, students will learn from archaeological wonders about the establishment of the performing arts as a vital aspect of a healthy civilization.
Hiking up 300 stairs to the Byzantine monasteries of Meteora will introduce students to the art, religious, and historical significance of this region. In Delphi, climbing the Sacred Way at this UNESCO World Heritage Site will provide students with reflective contemplation on the significance of this site. The field school will conclude with travel to an ancient ruin in the Greek Islands.
Throughout this field school, students will view Ancient Greek art and relics from the Classical and Byzantine eras. They’ll gain insight into the culture of Ancient Greece through play readings and enactments that are still being read and performed today. And they’ll be immersed in Greek culture by traveling by train, bus, and ferry to various regions where they’ll stay overnight, eat the local food, and walk and explore the towns.
Students will be expected to sketch, create a visual and reflective written journal, learn basic textile art processes, and participate in play readings as part of their course evaluations. Enrollment in two courses: THEA 321 (Theatre, Text Analysis) and ARTG 377 (Graphic Design, Independent Study in Design) is required, with an optional third course available.
No experience is necessary. This field school is open to registered VIU students in good academic standing. All methods will be taught.
Information Session
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
12 - 1 PM
Building 345, room 214
Application Procedure
Deadline to Apply: February 6, 2024
Interested students should contact Eliza Gardiner, Eliza.Gardiner@viu.ca or Cimarron Knight, Cimarron.Knight@viu.ca.
International and domestic VIU students in good academic standing.
Field School Fees Include
- Shared accommodation
- Most program related in-country travel
- Program activity costs
Expenses Not Included
- Tuition
- Return airfare to and from the field school
- Passport/Visa expenses
- Most meals
- Guard.Me travel medical insurance
- Vaccinations, if required
- Miscellaneous entry fees
- Personal expense
Payment Schedule
Field school fees will be $3700 and the payment schedule is as follows.
| Type | Amount | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit* | $500 | February 26, 2024 |
| Payment 1 | $1550 | March 12, 2024 |
| Payment 2/Final Payment | $1650 | April 2, 2024 |
*Non-refundable deposit required to secure your seat in the program
All payments must be made by the student record. Credit cards are NOT accepted.
Please review the VIU Education Abroad Cancellation, Withdrawal and Refund Policy.
Passports: All participants must have a valid passport good for six months after your return. Applications for Canadian passports are available at Canada Post offices. Students must be able to legally travel outside of Canada.
International students going abroad must make sure their TRV and Study Permits are up-to-date and won't expire while they are abroad.
Visas: Students will be responsible for applying for and securing their own visas (where appropriate). Canadian citizens will not normally require a visa.
International students may require a Schengen visa as per European Union entrance requirements.
Cimarron Knight
Eliza Gardiner
Education Abroad
Building 255, 2nd Floor
Phone: (250) 753-3245 local 2494
edabroad@viu.ca