San Gemini Preservation Studies

The San Gemini Preservation Studies (SGPS) program is an independent field school that offers educational programs in the disciplines of conservation and historic preservation. Since 2009 it has been a part of the International Institute for Restoration and Preservation Studies (IIRPS) an LLC based in Brooklyn New York, USA.

History

The program was first created in 1999 as a collaboration with the Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini (a local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage in San Gemini) and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The program was called the San Gemini Studies Program.

In 2009, SGPS became an independent field school called San Gemini Preservation Studies, part of the newly founded parent company IIRPS. In 2010, SGPS operated in collaboration with John Cabot University in Rome and, from 2011, it has operated independently. In 2017, an ongoing collaboration was established with the Art History Department of West Virginia University in Morgantown (WVU), in which students have the option of receiving university credits by registering for our courses through WVU.

The program began in 1999 with one course and 8 students studying restoration and surveying of historic buildings in San Gemini. Over time we have developed 5 different programs, in different disciplines, with a total of 75 summer students in 2023. All courses are offered in the English language. Most of our students come from the US and Canada but we also have students from many other countries including, Italy, China, the United Kingdom and Australia.

The summer programs we offer are:

• Program A: Touching the Stones, Restoration and Analysis of Historic Buildings

• Program B: Restoration and Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics

• Program C: Historical Book Binding, Structure and Preservation of Books

• Program D: Paper Restoration in Artworks and Archival Documents

• Program E: Traditional Painting Materials, Methods and Restoration Issues

• Preservation Tour: Siena, Florence and Rome

San Gemini Book & Paper Conservation School

A new professional specialized training program for book, paper, and archival material conservation. This four-month program specialization program in the fall of 2026 that aims to give students the skills necessary to be a conservation technician in archives, rare book libraries and museum archives.

San Gemini Preservation Studies – Mural Painting Conservation Program

This unique specialization program offers advanced training in the restoration and conservation of mural paintings, made with the traditional Italian methods done both in the fresco method and temperas. The course includes both theoretical learning and practical fieldwork.. It is being offered in the spring semester of 2027

Target audience

Courses are aimed at students of architecture, archaeologists, conservators, librarians, planners, art historians, museum curators, historians, engineers, artists, and other individuals involved in the planning, management, and study of cultural heritage.

Pedagogic approach

The program has always taken the approach that the best way to teach conservation is to combine theoretical classroom instruction with hands-on instruction in the field or workshop. We also endeavor to interact with the community, organizing our field and laboratory work to highlight and reinforce the local cultural heritage.

Well, established institutional relations

Over the past 25 years our program has established institutional relations and collaborations with various public and private institutions both in the US and Italy. The main local collaboration is with the Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini. a local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage. This organization has supported and facilitated the establishment and the ongoing operation of SGPS in San Gemini. It has created for a friendly and welcoming environment for the organization to flourish in and create a mutually beneficial relation with the community.

Other organizations with whom we have on going relations:

• Member of the American Institute of Conservation.

• West Virginia University in Morgantown, Art History Department.

• Archaeological excavation of the Public Baths of Carsulae, Dr. Jane Whitehead, Valdosta State University

• The Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti E Paesaggio Dell'umbria (the regional office of the Italian ministry of cultural heritage that supervises artistic and archaeological heritage)

• Soprintendenza archivistica e bibliografica dell'Umbria (the regional office of the Italian ministry of cultural heritage that supervises Archives and Libraries)

• Comune di San Gemini, (Public Administration of the City of San Gemini), TR, Italy

• Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini (local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage)

• Parrocchia Ss. Gemine e Giovanni Battista in San Gemini, (The Catholic Parish of San Gemini)

• Diocesi di Terni Narni e Amelia (Diocese of Terni, Narni and Amelia)

• Universita della Tuscia, Conservazione e Rstauro dei Beni Culturali

Past and Ongoing Field projects

Architectural projects

• Survey and Restoration of the façade of the church of San Giovanni Battista, San Gemini 1999-2004

• Restoration of the façade of the church of Santo Gemine, San Gemini 2005-2010

• Porta Burgi, San Gemini, restoration 2011-2013

• Restoration of the façade of the church of San Carlo, San Gemini 2014-2019

• Porta Tuderte, San Gemini, restoration 2023 to present

Archaeological field projects

• Archaeological excavation of The Public Baths of Carsulae, Dr. Jane Whitehead of the Valdosta State University 2006-2016

• Restoration of ceramics from Vicus, Umbria. Drew University 2011

• Restoration of ceramics from Palatine Hill excavation, University of Rome

• Restoration of ceramics from Grave goods of Roman tomb in Norcia, Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2013

• Restoration of ceramics from excavation of Carsulae, Dot. Ciotti, Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2014

• Restoration of ceramics from various graves in Abruzzo, Soprintendenza Archeologica dell’Abruzzo 2018

• Restoration of ceramics from Porano Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2022

• Restoration of ceramics from Colosseum, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, Rome 2022

• Restoration of ceramics from Temple of Magna Mater, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, Rome 2022

• Restoration of ceramics from excavation of grave at the Via Appia Antica, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, University of Ferrara 2023-2024

Local historic archives: 2011-ongoing

• Historic archives of the city of San Gemini

• Historic archives of the city of Collescipoli

• Historic archives of the Diocese of Narni

• Historic archives of the Diocese of Terni

• The Terni State Archives

Mural Painting Conservation Program

About

Our programs & projects

San Gemini Book & Paper

Research & Restorations

San Gemini Archives

SGPS Summer

West Virginia University