Five years ago, while escorting student travel groups around Madrid's Museo del Prado, Andrew Rose dreamed of creating his own small group art tour. It would be one immersed in the art and architecture of Italy but also a challenge for art lovers to experiment and create their own art "under the Tuscan sun."

This summer, Rose's vision will be realized when he leads Arte d'Italia 2008, a two-week art tour to Rome and Tuscany organized through the Academy Art Center at Linekona. The tour is the first in what the academy intends to be a series of art-related tours to global destinations.

"There is no place in the world where art is considered a greater national treasure and heritage than in Italy, specifically in Florence and Rome," said Rose. "The majority of what many people consider the world's most important art exists there. Combine this with travel and learning, and you have a very enriching experience."

Count as part of that experience: learning about Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" while gazing at the masterpiece in Florence; seeing firsthand the Vatican Map Room; returning from painting al fresco in the lush Tuscan countryside to gourmet food and wine at an agriturismo (farm-based inn). The tour spends one week in Rome absorbing art and one week in Tuscany creating it. Weaving in and around this schedule are optional films, lectures, wine- tastings and private excursions.

Rose says his mission is that of educating travelers rather than creating tourists. "It's an important distinction, not just to see works of art but to engage with another culture on different levels," he said. "People from Hawai'i are unique in this way. Our constant exposure to all the cultural groups here makes it come naturally."

"If the tour goes well and people support it, we would certainly look at doing it again and trying other countries," said Carol Khewhok, curator of the Academy Art Center. Rose already has received requests for trips to Tokyo and Egypt.

Though Italy's welcoming culture is one that resonates with Hawai'i, Rose said this tour will suit anyone with an inquisitiveness about the art world.

"Every artist through history believes art is essential to communication of the spirit. Our goal is for the group to return being able to share what they feel and have learned from what we build together on this tour," Rose said.

"Many times people are a little afraid of doing something new. Being creative is messy and challenging. My goal is to help participants get comfortable with being uncomfortable; if an experience like this doesn't sit easily with you, then you are quite possibly the very person who will enjoy it most."

GOING ABROAD FOR A SUMMER TOUR WITH THE ACADEMY OF ARTS

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS