What we offer the tutor: 

We offer the tutor (and a partner usually coming as an assistant to the tutor) free Pisa transfers*, accommodation and food (half board) at our beautiful centre in the village of Casole d'Elsa near Siena and San Gimignano.  The tutor can set their own tuition fees and charge directly to the students.  We as a centre set our charges per student for providing them with accommodation, lovely Italian meals and large beautiful studios and airport transfers from Pisa.

Our courses range from 6 - 13 nights in length. For the student (and the tutor) the courses provide a very enjoyable house-party experience while providing a stimulating and conducive environment for art.  

We usually plan our courses a year ahead (or more) though sometimes opportunities can open up at shorter notice. 

Recruitment of Students for the course:

We tend to rely heavily on the tutor to recruit their own students.  So for that reason it is essential that the tutor has well established connections with students likely to be interested in coming on an art course with them.  We do of course publicise all courses with descriptions of the course, testimonials and tutor CV on our web site and we also advertise fairly regularly in the Leisure Painter and The Artist and the Artist and Illustrator magazines.  A percentage of the students will sign up for the course through these means however from our long experience we find that people are much more likely to book with a tutor they already know and like.  Up to 14/15 students is ideal but from 10 is viable.  We rarely cancel courses if the tutor is willing to come though even if numbers are a bit lower. 

Costs for the student:

For the students the costs work out between £85 - £100 per day depending on room choice plus tuition (fee determined by the tutor). 

• The price includes Pisa transfers (or Poggibonsi or Florence  transfers by arrangement)
• Breakfast each morning
• Evening meal with wine on each night of the course less one (if the course is longer than 6 nights)  

Not included in the price:

• Lunches in the village (excellent choices for every budget from a slice of pizza for a couple of Euros to a fancy restaurant lunch). 
• The cost of the optional trip to Siena or San Gimignano is not usually included in the price either as not everyone wants to go.  Transport for the trips usually works out at €25 - 40 per person.
• Dinner at a local restaurant on one night  (if longer than 6 nights).  

How things work at the Centre:;

The centre has been running for over 30 years and is well established.   Normally there is tuition in the morning 9:30 - 11:30 am and afternoon 3:00 - 5:30 pm and occasional slide shows and talks in the evening after dinner.  Each course usually has at least one day off in the middle for a trip to Siena or San Gimignanao.  However for the 6 night courses there may not be time for this in which case it might be possible to arrange an “add-on” couple of nights in San Gimignano or Siena or Florence for sight seeing. 

More information and further details....

The web site has a lot more information and photos to give you an idea what it is like.  Please do call me if you would like to talk about anything.  My number is 0117 330 4973 and my mobile is 07981700396.

Best regards,

Hannah Konstam Toomer

*Free transfers are provided as long as the tutor  arrives/departs on the same day as the group.  You are welcome to arrive a day early to have a chance to look around and prepare a bit.  Sorry it can't be longer but we usually  have just one day free between each course.   Also we don't pay for tutor's flights so you would need to factor that cost into your tuition fee charge. Back to top