Val Gardena: The Summer Academy Returns—Two Weeks Dedicated to Drawing and Sculpture

From July 20 to August 1, 2026, the Val Gardena Summer Academy ( or Accademia Estiva) returns—an intensive program dedicated to drawing, sculpture, and plaster casting techniques, organizedby the La Vëta association. Now in its eighth edition, the initiative takes place in the Dolomites and offers two weeks of training and collaboration for artists, sculptors, and students from fine arts academies, as well as professionals active in the contemporary art scene.

Admission to the Academy is granted through a selection process based on portfolio review. Twenty participants, hailing from diverse international backgrounds, will be admitted and will have the opportunity to work closely with four artists deeply rooted in the local community: Aron Demetz, Gerhard Demetz, Peter Demetz, and Hermann Josef Runggaldier. The educational program combines practical experimentation, theoretical reflection, and critical discussion within a collaborative research environment.

The central theme of the program remainsthe exploration of the human figure. In earlier editions, the course began with large-format life drawing, which was then translated into three-dimensional works using clay, plaster, and cardboard. This method allowed participants to develop their observational skills, refine a personal formal language, and consolidate their technical skills, viewing sculptural practice as a continuation of figurative exploration.

For the second consecutive year, however, the Academy’s methodological approach focuses primarily on clay modeling and wood sculpture. Each participant is asked to develop an individual project accompanied by a continuous process of analysis and exploration, in which the various stages of the work are observed, discussed, and shared with the group. This exploration extends to the relationships between space, volume, material, and figurative presence, with the aim of consolidating each participant’s artistic practice and expanding their expressive possibilities. Traditional materials such as clay and local wood form the basis of the work, offering the tools to experiment with new ways of representing the human body and to explore the expressive potential of sculpted form.

In addition to the workshop activities, the Summer Academy offers an evening program consisting of visits to local artists’ studios, meetings with galleries, roundtable discussions, lectures, film screenings, excursions, and social gatherings. These initiatives foster the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants, helping to form a temporary community based on dialogue and ongoing discussion. For the duration of the Academy, artistic work and daily interaction thus become central elements of the educational experience, complementing the workshop practice with a relational dimension that has characterized the project since its very first editions.

Val Gardena: The Summer Academy Returns—Two Weeks Dedicated to Drawing and Sculpture

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