In fall of 1914, the newly formed American Academy in Rome opened its doors in a new building, designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, on the Janiculum Hill. The event marked in stone the merger of the School of Classical Studies and the American Academy in Rome, which had taken place three years earlier. With a building in common, including a magnificent new library, the joined schools ushered in a new beginning, uniting the best of artistic and humanistic endeavor under one roof.

The year 2014 thus marks the one hundredth anniversary not only of the buildings—the McKim, Mead & White Building and the Arthur and Janet C. Ross Library—but also of the radical experiment in integrating the arts and humanities that is the American Academy in Rome.

To celebrate this centennial, the American Academy invites Fellows, Affiliated Fellows, and Residents of every class to gather in Rome for a Reunion. Scheduled to coincide with the annual Trustees Week, taking place June 3–6, 2014, the Reunion will include a special exhibition, tours, symposia, a wonderful and relaxed opportunity to get to know the Academy’s new president, Mark Robbins (1997 Fellow), and, above all, a chance for communities past and present to reconnect with each other, with Rome and with the Academy. Families and friends of past community members are also welcome to attend.

Highlights for the week will include:

• Special tours for alumni, lead by Academy staff and Advisors
• A symposium featuring Simon During, Tim Parks, Jed Perl, and Taiye Selasi on the future of arts and humanities in the twenty-first century
• A special exhibition on the McKim, Mead & White Building in the context of early-twentieth-century Rome
• A festival with readings and open-studio visits by current Fellows
• Lots of time to reconnect with the Academy and your fellowship year

The week will kick off with the annual fundraising event of the McKim Medal Gala honoring Zaha Hadid. The event raises money to support the Italian Affiliated Fellows Program.

The 2014 Rome Reunion will mark the moment when the Academy became the institution we know and love today: a place that supports artists, writers, and scholars living together and working innovatively in a dynamic, international community. Come back and rejoin the community!

FAQ

Where can I stay for the Reunion?

While we’d love to house everyone at the Academy, the buildings will be filled with the current crop of fellows, residents and visitors. But we’ve shopped around for the best deals in hotels, both near AAR and closer to the center. A list of hotels and prices can be found below, with plenty of choices from B&Bs close by the Academy to luxury hotels in the center.

Can I bring my family?

Families are most welcome. Kids will be welcome at all events except the symposium and conversation with Mark Robbins and Christopher Celenza. Special events for kids will take place during the festival.