Erasmus+ for teachers - KA1
professional developement course
Experience the Printing Revolution!
May 12 – 16, 2025
This Course is recommended for humanities teachers of all schools
Experience the Printing Revolution!
Course Contents
Experience the printing revolution: while creating original works with the same presses and tools used in the workshops of the Renaissance, we will employ innovative and environmentally friendly materials and processes. At the Scuola, tradition meets innovation!
This Course includes 5 hands-on workshops, a lecture and a guided visit.
- Linocut. Inspired by Jacopo de’Barbari’s Bird’s Eye View Map of Venicee
- Typography with movable type.
- Drypoint. Printing images from engraved plexiglass matrices.
- Watercolored Artist’s Book at Palazzo Dandolo on the Grand Canal.
- Travel Album. Copting bookbinding.
Experience the Printing Revolution!
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the impact of the introduction of the printing press in the history of the Renaissance.
- Learning and repeating the techniques used in the serial production of prints through manual and creative processes.
- Discovering Aldo Manuzio and the introduction of affordable editions in modern publishing.
- Exploring the relationships and the continuity between the revolution of the printing press and the digital revolution.
- Developing the concept of sustainability in our daily life practice.
Experience the Printing Revolution!
Our Teaching Methods
In our lessons, there is always a harmonious balance between theory and practice. Since the techniques we teach are the result of centuries of research and experimentation, manual activity is preceded by an introduction that allows understanding within its historical, economic, and social context.
The lessons are further supported by visits to museums, libraries and print collections. Examples provided by our collection of prints and artists’ books also contribute to the learning experience.
Our goal is to obtain tangible results. Our participants complete their educational journey by creating works printed with a manual press and small hand-bound books.
More Information
Scuola Internazionale di Grafica OID
E10011003
Educators, trainers, school administrators, and other personnel from educational institutions are qualified to receive an Erasmus+ grant, which caters to all costs related to participation in our training courses. This inclusive grant encompasses travel, accommodations, meals, cultural activities, and all associated fees.
Our training courses for teaching and non-teaching staff fall under Key Action 1 (KA121-SCH and KA121-SCH in the field of school education, KA121-ADU and KA122-ADU in the field of adult education, KA121-VET and KA122-VET in the field of technical and vocational education and training)
This course will be offered on the following dates:
- May 12 – 16, 2025
Registration deadline: 15 days before the course begins
Program Fees amount to €650,00, to be paid as follows:
- Registration Fee: €100,00
Upon Course confirmation by the Scuola - Balance Fee: €550,00
30 days prior to the commencement of the Course
Payment Method
- Bank Transfer:
Beneficiary: Scuola Internazionale di Grafica
Banca della Marca Credito Cooperativo – San Marco 4403, 30124 Venice, Italy
IBAN – IT89A0708402005000000700651
SWIFT: ICRAITRRU40 - Online credit card:
https://shop.scuolagrafica.it/payments/
Fees include all materials needed for the hands-on workshops
Fees do not include
- Accommodation in Venice
- Meals
- Travel costs
- Local transportation costs
NB.: The Course schedule exclusively describes the training activities programmed at the Scuola. As this course takes place in Venice, we encourage all participants to take maximum advantage from the limitless resources the city offers by visiting as many art sites as possible in their free time.
Day 1
9am-11am | Welcome to the Scuola. Intruductory Lecture by Maestro Franco Vecchiet
2-HOUR LECTURE
The participants are welcomed to the Scuola and guided by our staff for a tour of the premises, where they will be able to admire the traditional machinery they will work with during the programme.
Maestro Franco Vecchiet will hold an introductory lecture on the theme of the printing press revolution, the impact of communication and the spread of ideas in Renaissance society, its social, political, historical, and religious consequences, and the elements that it shares with the digital revolution we are experiencing today.
Understanding how and why it all began will provide today’s educators with a formidable tool to comprehend how the social media revolution is changing the thinking of the new generations.
Day 2
9,30am – 13,30pm | The Bird’s Eye View map of Venice by Jacopo de’ Barbari. Relief Printmaking.
4-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
We will show an original size reproduction of Jacopo de’ Barbari’s bird’s eye view map of Venice and describe its salient details.
Jacopo de’ Barbari’s woodcut of Venice, made in AD 1500, is a symbol of beauty and wise governance. Created from multiple sketches, the accurate bird’s eye view is still used by historians and planners today.
The woodcut highlights the intricate canal network, functional city life, and unique infrastructure. Printed from 6 blocks, this masterpiece showcases the city’s sea-centric lifestyle.
Under the guidance of our instructor, students will create a linocut, a relief technique akin to the process employed by de Barbari in crafting the renowned map currently exhibited at the Museo Correr.
Day 3
09:30 – 12:30 | Typography with Movable Type: The Printed Text
3-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
The introduction of the printing press with movable type revolutionized Western societies in a manner comparable to the digital revolution of our era.
Guided by our instructor, participants will delve into the world of the typographic press and explore the printing tools employed in Renaissance workshops.
Each participant will receive movable types to compose a short word, which they will then apply to ensure correct page dimensions and placement in the printing press.
By the end of the workshop, all participants will have successfully produced two prints.
14:30 – 17:00 | Visit to the Book Collection at Museo Correr
Day 4
09:30 – 12:30 | Drypoint on Plexiglass
3-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
The introduction of the printing press enabled the production of editions with significantly more copies than manuscripts, which had to be created one-by-one manually. Throughout the history of publishing, books have been illustrated in various ways, and etching has been one of the most widely used methods.
In this workshop dedicated to the drypoint non-acid technique, we will engrave on a plexiglass plate to learn a versatile and contemporary process. Students will use traditional tools such as the needle and more experimental materials such as sandpaper, among others. The different pressure exercised in the engraving will create the ‘beards’ that characterise the drypoint marks. We have revisited an ancient process in a modern and sustainable key thanks to the use of plexiglass plates and soy oil-based inks, which are washable with water and soap. The Scuola’s instructor will accompany students step by step in their realisation of plates and small printing editions.
15:00 – 18:00 | Watercolored Artists’ Book at Palazzo Dandolo on the Grand Canal
3-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
During the workshop, we will discover how to create small books from a single sheet of paper.
Following the models provided by Matilde Dolcetti, Arts Director of the Scuola, we will plan the booklets, organizing the pages and defining the content.
Guided by Matilde, participants will create watercolor paintings on a free theme and through a few cuts and folds, they will produce an accordion book.
Planning the work, layout, and techniques of cutting and folding the paper will also be essential to construct books in various forms.
Day 5
14:00 – 18:00 | Monotype & Trace Monotype
4-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Roberta Feoli De Lucia
Engraver, printer, teacher, Feoli specialized in Printmaking at the Academy of Fine Arts in Urbino. She experimented with managing a print shop during her Erasmus at the Faculty of Fine Arts Alonso Cano in Granada.
She continued her studies at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, where she later became the print shop manager for about ten years.
In 2018, she was a Guest Artist in the USA for Mixit Print Studio and Boston Printmakers, who invited her to give lectures to American universities and print shops. She also became the first Italian printmaker to obtain a specialization in less toxic printmaking techniques at Zea Mays Printmaking studio, in Florence (Northampton), Massachusetts. She currently collaborates and serves as an external consultant for the Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, Massachusetts.
In 2023, she partnered with Silvana Gaspari on the project “Charta picta – Opificio d’arte 2023,” an artist residency, traveling exhibition, and workshops related to the Vas Paper Mill. A member of the “People of Print” community, she is an active supporter of respectful and sustainable printing, organizing courses and conferences on the subject for years.
Franco Vecchiet
Born in Trieste, Vecchiet studied in Urbino, at the Academy of Ljubljana, and with H. Goetz in Venice. Until the 1980s, he primarily dedicated himself to printmaking, later adding painting to his repertoire and experimenting with artist books and installations.
He directed the School of Etching “Carlo Sbisà” in Trieste, and in 1999, he was invited to teach at the Higher Academy of Art in Paris. Subsequently, in 2009, he taught at Indiana University in the United States.
He has curated over seventy solo exhibitions in various cities in Italy and abroad, participating in international exhibitions and biennials.
In 1989, he was awarded the national Preseren Fund Prize in Ljubljana, and in 2004, he won the international competition for the mosaic on Transalpina Square in Gorizia.
In 2006, he received the special jury prize at the Ex Tempore in Piran (Slovenia). In 2008, he was honored with the “Homage to Spacal” award for painting organized by the Kons association, and in 2012, he received the SKGZ recognition in Trieste for his artistic activity.
In 2009, he was awarded the Grand Prix at the International Print Biennial in Sarcelles, Paris. In 2014, he was the protagonist of a personal retrospective exhibition at the Revoltella Museum of Modern Art in Trieste.
Matilde Dolcetti
A Venetian artist, the soul, and curator of art programs at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica. Since 1980, Dolcetti has worked alongside international artists at the school’s print shop and has taught for international institutions and universities.
She has conducted seminars at the Pontifical Catholic University (P.U.C.) in Rio de Janeiro, the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in São Paulo, and later in Bremen for the Gerhard Marcks Haus Museum.
Additionally, she has held seminars in Belgrade for the National Museum, in Boston at Boston University, and at Connecticut College in New London, CT, United States.
She was part of the international jury for the IV Biennial of Art Graphics in Belgrade and was an Artist in Residence at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, United States.
She has had the opportunity to collaborate with masters such as Stanley William Hayter, Riccardo Licata, Jean M. Granier, Bruno Munari, Maria Lai, and Michael Mazur.
She has also participated in prestigious group exhibitions at the École Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, the IX International Print Biennial in New London, CT (United States), and in 2022, she has been part of “Acqua è il mio colore / Water is my colour,” an exhibition celebrating the works of six artists who have been central to the world of watercolor at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice.
Alessia De Bortoli
Engraver, printer, and book artist, De Bortoli graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Printmaking. She continued her studies at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, following the teachings of the Scuola’s Masters: Matilde Dolcetti, Roberta Feoli, Franco Vecchiet, Loretta Cappanera, and international artists periodically present at the institution.
Since 2019, she has been working in the print shop of the Scuola, initially as an assistant, then as the print shop manager and teacher of courses.
From 2018, she has participated in group exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Since 2019, she has particiipated in artist residencies in Germany at the Kloster Bentlage center in collaboration with the Münsterland Festival.
Subsequently, in 2022, she completed a residency in the USA at the Zea Mays Printmaking studio, where she earned the “Green Printmaking certificate” for sustainable intaglio engraving methods.
She has taken part in various group exhibitions, including the VI Biennial of Engraving and Contemporary Graphics at the Civic Museums of Bassano del Grappa, the exhibition “Water – Works on Paper” at the Artery Cooperative in Northcote, Australia, and “Changing Landscapes – Paesaggi che cambiano,” organized by DARS for GrabGroup space in Pordenone.
Terms of Participation in the Erasmus+ Professional Developement Courses at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica
- The maximum number of admitted participants is 14 per Course. Enrollments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
- To enroll in the Professional Developement Courses offered by the Scuola, participants are required to fill out the registration form available on the Scuola’s website →
- Participants are requested to ensure that the provided information is correct. Any changes to the registration information must be promptly emailed to the Scuola at info@scuolagrafica.it.
- Invoice: Upon acceptance into the Course, the Scuola will issue an electronic invoice to the institution funding the participant or directly to the participant if not funded by any institution.
- Registration: To confirm participation in the course and secure an available spot, participants are requested to pay a €100,00 registration fee upon acceptance by the Scuola. This fee is non-refundable. Balance fees are due no later than 15 calendar days from the start of the course.
- Payments: Fees can be paid through bank transfer or securely via credit card payment on the Scuola’s online shop→
- Cancellation & Refund Policies: The Scuola reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. In such instances, participants will receive a full refund. The Scuola bears no responsibility for any inability or delay in fulfilling obligations arising from circumstances beyond its control, which may include, but are not limited to, acts of nature, war, terrorism, or government regulations.
- Cancellation by the Participant: Cancellations before 60 days from the beginning of the Course are granted a full refund of the balance fees. Cancellations before 30 days from the beginning of the Course are granted a 50% refund of the balance fees. Cancellation within 30 days from the beginning of the Course will not be refunded. If the participant does not show up on the course’s starting day, no refund will be provided. In the event that, without having communicated their delay in writing, the participants appear on the following days after the course has started, they will not be admitted to participate, and no refund will be issued. Refunds, if due, will be issued within 10 days after receiving a formal cancellation email at info@scuolagrafica.it. At its discretion, the Scuola may consider exceptions to the cancellation policy in instances of documented emergencies or unforeseen circumstances..
- Participants may request to transfer their enrollment to a future course, subject to availability and approval from the Scuo
- For organizational reasons, the dates, instructors, and the curriculum of the course may undergo changes. In such a case, participants will be promptly informed and, upon their request, reimbursed the entire amount of the course.
- The Scuola Internazionale di Grafica functions as both a school and studio for artists. All participants are expected to adhere to the rules provided at the beginning of each course.
- The use of presses and working tools is strictly prohibited without the supervision of our qualified staff. The Scuola is not liable for any injuries resulting from non-compliance with our rules.
- Insurance: We recommend that participants purchase travel insurance for medical expenses, lost property, or any kind of accident occurring while travelling and during the course.
- Meals are not included in the course cost.
- Materials and Tools: The Scuola Internazionale di Grafica provides all necessary materials and tools for the course.
- Privacy: Participants acknowledge and accept that images of their work created at the Scuola, as well as their personal images, may be published on the Scuola’s website or social media profiles for promotional purposes.
- Accreditation Erasmus+: Participants must fulfill all course requirements to receive a certificate of accreditation Erasmus+.
- Competent Jurisdiction: For any dispute related to these Terms of Participation, the competent jurisdiction is that of Venice.
- The Scuola reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Participation. Changes will be communicated to enrolled participants via email.
- Creativity and Manual Skills in the Classroom→
Recommended for primary and secondary school art teachers.
May 20-24 and October 14-18 - Introducing Sustainable Processes in Printmaking→
Recommended for Art teachers of secondary art schools, academies, and art universities.
May 27-31 and October 21-25 - Erasmus plus one to one→
1 or 2 Week Programmes for art professors and non-teaching staff.
Dates open - Erasmus Plus Independent Mobility→
1 or 2 Week Individual work and research for professors with experience in Printmaking.
Dates open