Savannah College of Art and Design

Lacoste

SCAD-Lacoste is located in Provence, in the South of France. Formerly the Lacoste School of the Arts, founded by American painter Bernard Pfriem in 1970, SCAD-Lacoste offers a unique opportunity for students and faculty to spend an entire term immersed in the culture of the region.

Lacoste is a beautifully preserved medieval village and vibrant art community of about 300 inhabitants. Here, one can wander among the mazelike ruelles and join with others in artistic endeavors. Extraordinary light and beauty in an exquisite rural setting form the backdrop for a focused educational experience.

SCAD-Lacoste facilities date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Within these ancient walls, SCAD-Lacoste offers a variety of modern amenities, including computer labs with Internet and e-mail access. Well-equipped teaching studios are dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and digital imaging. Individual and group studios are available. Other facilities include a library, dining hall and housing for students, faculty and guests. Students may enjoy two cafés, a restaurant and a boulangerie in the village.

Courses vary each term and may be offered in painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, film, photography, historic preservation, art history, architecture, English, sequential art, graphic design, industrial design, media and performing arts, and fashion. Classes are taught in English.

The graduate residency program at SCAD-Lacoste provides a unique forum for self-directed study and artistic engagement. Designed to support and encourage graduate-level students, the program is committed to the production of high-quality work and thought-provoking discourse within a small, nurturing community. Participants work independently in studios, convene regularly with resident faculty and meet with distinguished visiting artists. Group critiques, lectures and regional excursions further enhance the experience.

A variety of activities outside the classroom are integral to the SCAD-Lacoste experience: faculty lectures, workshops and exhibitions, as well as visits to artist ateliers, museums and historic sites in the area. At the end of each quarter, students have an opportunity to exhibit their work at a local vernissage.

In the mild spring, summer and autumn seasons, opportunities abound for outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking and swimming. The ease of village life at Lacoste is balanced by frequent excursions to the nearby cultural centers of Avignon, Aix, Arles and Marseilles, as well as trips to larger cities such as Paris.