Special session: 18 May @ Swedish Institute & British School

Rebooting the Postwar Academy

After World War II, Rome’s claim to be the caput mundi ceded to a more complex and contested geography of global culture. And yet, Rome did not fall off the map. One contributing factor was the city’s constellation of national academies and cultural institutes that sponsor residencies for artists and scholars. From 1945-1960, existing institutions resumed their prewar programs, often in revised form. During these years, a wider circle of nations also established new centers. Collectively, they contributed to Rome’s persistence as a capital of not just historic, but late-twentieth century culture.

This half-day workshop will present new information about various challenges, people, and issues that shaped different institutions’ histories between 1945-60. These discussions will add depth, nuance, and context to currently available histories, showcase research resources, and identify common themes and problems for future analysis. In addition to presentations that focus on individual academies, which will include site visits to three Valle Giulia institutions built during the 1950s and 1960s, the workshop will include two scholars whose work synthesizes the history of multiple academies during the 1940s through the 1960s.

Frederick Whitling, Fellow of the Swedish Institute in Rome, will present his findings on the history of classical scholarship and research resources during and after the war. Denise Costanzo, Fellow of the American Academy in Rome and assistant professor of architecture at the Pennsylvania State University, will share her research into the postwar Rome Prize in architecture. 

This workshop will begin at 14:00 at the Swedish Instiute, Via Omero 14. From approximately 15:30-17:00 participants will visit the Danish Academy, Egyptian Academy and the Japanese Cultural Institute. At 17:00 the workshop’s final presentations will take place at the British School at Rome, followed by a reception at 19:00.

Organizers:  Frederick Whitling (Fellow, Swedish Institute in Rome) and Denise Costanzo (Fellow, American Academy in Rome and Assistant Professor of Architecture, the Pennsylvania State University).