Painting & French Culture
A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future
Explore
Have fun discovering the French Riviera through the eyes of an artist.
Network
Meet new friends and artists. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Launch your future today! Create visual art using traditional and new techniques. Come home with a portfolio of creative work.
The Destination
Welcome to Nice, jewel of the French Riviera and gateway to Mediterranean life.
For generations, painters have been drawn to Nice for its famous Mediterranean light, bold coastal colors, and landscapes that helped shape modern art. Henri Matisse lived and worked here for decades, while artists like Marc Chagall and Pierre-Auguste Renoir found inspiration across the Riviera. Beyond its artistic legacy, Nice reflects layers of French, Italian, and Provençal culture, visible in Belle Époque facades, pastel Old Town streets, and the famous Cours Saleya flower market, where buckets of sunflowers, lavender, and roses spill color across the square.
Taste Mediterranean life through crispy socca (a chickpea flatbread), fresh salade niçoise, and gelato along the waterfront. Wander flower stalls and open-air markets, take in sweeping sea views from Castle Hill, and stroll the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais. Nice surrounds you with the kind of beauty that has inspired artists for generations.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Coco Beach and Coastal Boat Tour
Spend a day soaking up the Côte d’Azur from land and sea at Coco Beach, a beloved rocky cove tucked along Nice’s coastline where locals swim in clear turquoise water. Cruise the sparkling Bay of Angels by boat, passing hidden coves and cliffside villas along a coastline made famous not only by painters, but in films like “To Catch a Thief.” Drop anchor for a swim, cool off in the Mediterranean, and enjoy beach games with fellow Global Navigators under the sun.
Back on shore, explore Coco Beach’s rugged limestone inlets, relax on the rocks like the locals do, and watch the sea shift from sapphire to aquamarine in the afternoon light. Between sunshine, saltwater, and a little Riviera movie magic, this excursion is all about soaking up the glamorous, playful spirit of the South of France.
Day Trip to Monaco
Step into the glamour and history of Monaco, the world’s second-smallest country, where royal palaces, superyachts, and dramatic Mediterranean views are packed into just two square kilometers. Wander the narrow lanes of Monaco-Ville, the old town perched on “The Rock,” and visit the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, home to the Grimaldi family for more than 700 years. Stand along the legendary Formula 1 Grand Prix route and see where race cars speed through city streets, hairpin turns, and even a tunnel during one of the world’s most famous races.
Stroll the harbor lined with yachts, take in Monte Carlo’s grand Belle Époque architecture, and imagine the glamour that made Monaco famous, from royalty to movie stars like Grace Kelly. Home to just around 39,000 people, yet with roughly one in three residents a millionaire, Monaco offers a fascinating glimpse into one of the world’s most extravagant tiny countries.
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Dates & Fees
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2027 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,000 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2027 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date |
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition below.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Luisa Caldas
Regional Director of Operations for Europe
Luísa has been a Regional Director of Operations since 2023, monitoring and supporting centers in the UK, France, Ireland, and Portugal. Before this role, she was Center Director of CIEE...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
Get Started
1
2
Connect with your Teachers or Parents
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about enrolling.
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