Visual and Performing Arts

Study Away: Art and Sustainability in Sweden

Take a journey that will empower you to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Art and Sustainability in Sweden is an immersive, interdisciplinary program that connects art, music, ecology, climate change, and community development. The faculty of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts lead this program, centering the arts and community connection as key drivers in environmental stewardship. Faculty from other campus disciplines are invited each session as guests to create a rotating collection of fresh perspectives. 

Sustainability in Sweden is part of Sister Forests—an ongoing environmental arts project that links the forests of Björkö-Arholma, Sweden, with those of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, fostering a deep sense of community and global responsibility.

The next program is planned for summer 2028. 

 

Who Can Apply to Sustainability in Sweden?

The trip is open to all majors. We welcome all students who have a deep interest in the environment and a desire to create a meaningful impact on the world. 

Sustainability in Sweden Faculty Leaders

Lisa Gordillo
"There is no must in art because art is free."
—Wassily Kandinsky

Lisa Gordillo

  • Associate Professor, Visual and Performing Arts
  • Artist-in-Residence, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences
  • Academy of Teaching Excellence

Links of Interest

Students and faculty on stairs of Nobel Prize museum
Michigan Tech students tour the Nobel Prize museum in Stockholm

Art and Sustainability in Sweden Blog

Courses in the Program

Course offerings change each year. 3-6 credits of creativity-based courses are offered each session. Faculty in other disciplines work with VPA-faculty to create an interdisciplinary experience for the program’s students. Students are asked to take at least 6 credits. Coursework begins online 2 weeks before departure. Our 2025 courses were as follows.

ART 3850: Art in the Forest

A place-based arts class within the Swedish forest. We'll seek out sites that spark our imagination, sites of ecological significance, and sites that matter to the local community. We'll spend time learning about the places we're in, imagining how art can tell a story there, and why those stories matter. We'll make works of art that can be touched, held, walked on, and climbed into—exploring such ideas as sustainability, accessibility, flexibility, comfort, connection, and play. A key aspect of this course is developing art that increases accessibility in the forest, mixing community engagement and local stewardship.

  • Instructor: Lisa Gordillo
  • 1 or 3 credits
  • Gen Ed: HASS (Humanities and Fine Arts) / Essential Ed: Arts and Culture
  • Includes a lab fee, which will be the final balance of your program fee

FW 3114: Reading the Forest

Reading the Forest is an international, ecologically focused travel course emphasizing observational learning. Students study forest ecology topics, natural disturbances, and human-derived impacts that shape the forests around us. Connecting to the natural world and place-based learning influences the way we make observations, allowing us to think deeper about how the past and the present shape forested landscapes.

  • Instructor: Tara Bal, Forest Resources and Environmental Science
  • 3 credits

  • Gen Ed: HASS (Social and Behavioral Science) / Essential Ed: Experience

FW 3117: Forests of the Future

Forests of the Future is an international travel course that links together concepts of climate change, tree physiology, and how we interact with and communicate about forests. Students will learn about how forests work and how they are responding to our changing climate. Students will also explore ways of communicating about complex topics like climate change and how trees interact with each other and their environment.

  • Instructor: Molly Cavaleri, Forest Resources and Environmental Science
  • 3 credits
  • Gen Ed / Essential Ed: STEM
Hiking in Swedish woods.

Costs

Students pay their regular Michigan Tech tuition, airfare, and program fee. The program fee includes:

  • All housing
  • Course materials
  • Entrance to all activities
  • In-country transportation
  • Most meals
  • International health insurance*

* Required by the University

Students should also budget $15-$30 per day in personal spending money for the trip. All students are required to have a personal cell phone with an international plan.

Cost Details from 2026

  • The program fee for 2025 is $3700. 
  • First deposit: $750 | Due: Friday, January 10, 2025
  • Second deposit: $750 | Due: Friday, March 7, 2025
  • Final balance ($2200): Paid with summer tuition
  • ART 3850 includes a lab fee, which will be the final balance of your program fee

Costs for the 2028 program will be posted in September 2027.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students can cover all program costs with financial aid. To qualify for financial aid, you must take 12 credit hours during the summer (Track A and Track B combined).

Students may receive up to 9 credit hours for this program. Michigan Tech students who wish to take 12 summer credit hours may take additional credits during Track B to meet their credit requirements. A small number of Independent Study options are sometimes available with program faculty. Please contact one of the program leaders if you're interested in this option.

Consult with the Michigan Tech Financial Aid Office, or the financial aid office at your home university, for more information about how to fund your study abroad experience.

Past Experiences

Our past programs provided students with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in rich cultural experience where sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community care intersected every day. Whether you're considering your own adventure or simply want to see the incredible work our students have produced, this is your chance to be inspired. Join us in celebrating a fusion of art and science that makes an impact on the world.

Participants during Midsommer.
Faculty at Midsommar
A bridge in the city of Uppsala
A bridge in the city of Uppsala
A view of the Åland sea with participants.
Faculty and guest speakers by the Åland sea

Other Things to Consider

Have questions about studying aboard? Your Faculty Leader can help you with your pre-departure. Michigan Tech has standard policies on academic misconduct and complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Here are some other resources that will help you with your visit:

Behavior and Expectations

Students are expected to abide by the Michigan Tech student conduct code. There is zero tolerance for drug use. Violations will result in immediate expulsion from the program and no refund.

Health and Safety

Reasonable precautions should be taken as in any area abroad. Faculty Leaders will assist you in finding the closest medical facilities.

Accommodations

For more information about reasonable accommodation for or equal access to education or services at Michigan Tech, please call the Dean of Students Office, at 906-487- 2212 or follow the link above.