Our trips demonstrate the idea that art can be a window into a culture, a society, and the political context in which the artist works. Artists often reveal insights that may not be articulated outside of the arts, suggesting connections and implying what cannot be said aloud. They are often the most outspoken interpreters of their world, using codes to subvert the silence imposed by restrictive g
overnments or social taboos. We are always looking for new places to explore that offer exceptional experiences for our travelers. We make sure you see the most famous sights but also enjoy discovery of things known only to those that are willing to go beyond the beaten path. We think that it is as important to hypothesize the future as it is to study and enjoy the monuments and traditions of the past and the shifting immediate present. We ask how the big questions that are being asked worldwide are regarded in the places we visit. How will the government provide for its people? How will that country address the looming question of sustainability? What will life look like in these places as they navigate the 21st century and beyond? We tailor each itinerary to include a varied array of events that put you in touch with the people. This includes many artists, experts from a variety of disciplines including historians, economists, curators, architects and planners. Since we travel to places with rich cultural life, you will see dance, hear music, see art. You will see not only finished works but dancers and musicians in rehearsal and artist in their studios. Many studios are in the homes of the artists, so studio visits also give you access to private spaces, to see how people live. You will meet artists and performers with international reputation and emerging artists and students. You will learn about the belief systems— political, religious, social— that underlie the surface of everyday life. In addition to time spent in major cities, we travel to provincial cities, through the countryside. You will see how the land is used, taste regional cuisine, see how people live and work in the provinces and the country. To make your trip as enjoyable as possible, we choose hotels in interesting locations, select restaurants to be sure you sample a variety of local cuisines and creative cooking. We plan for free time but are there to offer suggestions for ways to spend it. Pro Arte Travel is a small organization that grew out of the extensive travels and activity in the art world of founder Marilyn Zeitlin. Her background is in comparative literature and art history, with degrees from Harvard University and additional study at Cornell University. Her dual careers in teaching and museum work have been characterized by her exploration of the art of our own time and the relationship between art and society, especially in contexts of social change. Her curatorial work has included exhibitions of the work of Francesc Torres, Ida Applebroog, Denise Green, John Ahearn. She originated “Social Studies,” a series of residency projects inaugurated with Brazilian artist Jarbas Lopes. She was the commissioner for the United States at the 1995 Venice Biennale presenting five new works by Bill Viola. She did extensive research in El Salvador that culminated in a video documentary and exhibition about the civil war in El Salvador, Art Under Duress: El Salvador 1984-92. She curated Contemporary Art from Cuba: Irony and Survival on the Utopian Island that premiered in 1998 at Arizona State University and toured to nine additional venues. It mirrors the time in Cuba known as the Special Period, from the collapse of the Soviet Union and its support of Cuba to the mid-2000s. She has organized many additional projects with Cuban artists. She is active as an arts writer travel organizer. The local guides whom we hire are not only knowledgeable but readily open to questions. The experts we engage are there not only to deliver information but to engage your curiosity. So bring your preconceptions, open your eyes and ears, and explore with us.
