DRESDEN SUMMER – INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS

The programme will include exclusive visits to the worldfamous museums Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), founded by King August II, “The Strong”, in 1721 and filled with the exceptional treasures collected by himself and his ancestors, all placed in a baroque setting. In the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Gallery), the Academy will study the role of the great collector King August III who founded the Gallery and enriched it with paintings of exceptional quality. Works of the great painters of the 19th century, such as Caspar David Friedrich, will be studied in the Galerie Neue Meister (New Masters Gallery). Experts of the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Cabinet of Prints and Drawings), will show a special selection of important drawings and prints from its celebrated collections and discuss them with the students. The magnificent Zwinger, houses in its richly decorated pavillions the rich Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection) that enables the Academy to study exceptional and exquisite pieces of Asiatic and Meissen porcelain of the highest quality. In the Arcade Gallery of the Zwinger, the Skulpurensammlung (Sculpture Collection) shows masterpieces of Greek and Roman sculptures. The students will be given detailed insight into works that initially inspired Winckelmann in the 18th century to develop his great theories on the esthetics of Art. A day will be devoted to visit Schloss Pillnitz with its park and gardens, once the beautiful summer palace of August the Strong and his successors. Here, in the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts), the high quality of the decorative arts in Dresden and their innovative role in the early 20th century, will be studied. In addition to this program, the participants will visit a number of important buildings in the historic center of Dresden, such as the Frauenkirche, Hofkirche, Zwinger, and the Semper Opera. There will be excursions to interesting places around Dresden such as Schloss Moritzburg. The participants will be offered a special viewing of the grand restoration project of the Residenzschloss in Dresden, with a tour through the work-in-progress and a lecture on the current restoration and renovation of the Royal State Appartment.

IMPORTANT EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS OF THE STAATLICHE KUNSTSAMMLUNGEN DRESDEN TO BE VISITED BY THE PARTICIPANTS IN 2010. The visits are accompanied by curators of the exhibitions.

- the newly opened Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber) in the Residenzschloss, featuring the unique collection of ornamental objects, weaponry, representative tents and horse-trappings from the Ottoman empire.

 - The renovated and in 2010 reopened Albertinum, now dedicated to the fine arts of the 19th, 20th century and to contemporary art. The renovated Albertinum combines in an innovative way, the monumental architecture of this ancient building with an impressive, newly designed spacious roof, spanning the whole of the previously open courtyard where the depots and conservation departments of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen are housed as if suspended in the air.

- Zukunft seit 1560 (State of the Art since 1560). This major exhibition celebrates the 450 years Jubilee of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden and presents a magnificent, comprehensive and versatile survey of the collections and their importance.

- Triumph der blauen Schwerter (Triumph of the Blue Swords). This major exhibition celebrates the 300 years Jubilee of the Meissen porcelain factory with an overview of exceptionel and exquisite object, made between 1710 and 1815. The show will be held in the Japanese Palace, once destined by August the Strong as a superb palace to house his illustrious collection of porcelains and exotic objects. After almost 300 years, this exhibition partly realises August´s dream.