ALCHIMIA, Contemporary Jewellery School in Firenze

About us

Location Firenze, Italy Funding Type Private
No of Students 44 Establishment HE Institution / College
Founded In 1998 Estimated Cost of Living 10.000 EUR
Address Piazza Piattellina 3R

Alchimia was founded in 1998 in Florence, a bespoke Italian city that counts the highest number of works of art in the world; a unique place where students can learn to make jewellery as an artistic expression: an innovative international teaching approach that encourages students to develop a personal way of observation, discovering their own creative code.

Alchimia’s goal is to master, preserve and spread traditional techniques in order to evolve, transform and merge into contemporary thinking and culture. We believe there cannot be any true development without the knowledge of what came before; our desire is to bring back the status of jewel and body ornament as a work of art, that people can see, touch, ponder and interpret in it’s own aesthetic, meaning and impact on today’s reality.

Tradition and innovation, like mind and hand, need to move together.

The name Alchimia refers to the ancient discipline between science and philosophy, from which to draw in order to transform the “worthless” into a thing of the “highest quality” by intent, craftsmanship, creativity and enthusiasm for working. In a metaphorical sense the alchemic component plays a very important role in the guidelines and the teaching of the school, as what is being “worked” are also valuable materials, though with the aim of having the creative element prevailing

Jewellery to us is a mean of communication. A language

Why?

Alchimia is a place where nationalities and cultures meet, where study and practice are always challenged by this intersection of experiences and points of view. A beating heart where desire of knowledge and curiosity are the base for a personal development of the single person/student. The result is open-mindedness, respect for the others, interchange and exchange, collaboration and sharing, empathy and awarness: elements that together are a great part of creativity devlopment, both collective and individual.

Alchimia’s two-year BFA program offers a comprehensive full-immersion in contemporary jewellery and design welcoming those without prior experience or possession of jewellery-making skills.

Alchimia’s MFA program develops over a two-year period with the aim to expand and deepen the student’s knowledge and skills, generate further critical understanding and investigate new possibilities for marketing and promotion. Evert Nijland and Lucy Sarneel, both international exhibiting artists, are the tutors respectively of the first and second year.

Intensive Courses are thought for students at all levels of experience, from beginners to professionals: starting every Monday, for a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 6 months, and provide one teacher for every 4 students,allowing a deeply personalized program and continuous support.