Prato
Academy
International PhD Summer School
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The Academy
New ways of working on research, and new ways of thinking about it.
The Prato Academy is an international PhD summer school run jointly by Monash University and the Institute for Digital Culture at the University of Leicester. Each June, doctoral researchers from across disciplines gather at the Monash Prato Centre to socialise their research, build networks, and grow research confidence.
Prato, Italia
A medieval textile city turned laboratory for digital culture.
Twenty minutes from Florence, Prato pairs striped-marble cathedrals and Renaissance palazzi with one of Europe's most multicultural communities. It is the perfect setting to step outside the everyday routine of the PhD and see your research with fresh eyes.
In 2027 the Academy returns for its next edition — a week of workshops, walks, shared meals, and conversations that turn a city of makers into a campus. Applications open to doctoral researchers of all disciplines.
Editions 2023–2026
Step inside any edition to walk its room of photographs.
![Prato Academy 2023: Research [in] Action](/archive/covers/2023.jpg)
Faculty and organisers
Dr Vince Dziekan
Program Director
Monash University
Professor Ross Parry
Director, Institute for Digital Culture
University of Leicester
Professor Jon McCormack
Founding Workshop Organiser — 2023
Monash SensiLab
Peter Holzkorn
Futurelab Contributor — 2024
Ars Electronica Futurelab
Six partner institutions
Founding PartnerMonash UniversityMelbourne, Australia(opens in a new tab)
Founding PartnerInstitute for Digital Culture, University of LeicesterLeicester, United Kingdom(opens in a new tab)
Program PartnerMonash SensiLabMelbourne, Australia(opens in a new tab)
Program PartnerArs Electronica FuturelabLinz, Austria(opens in a new tab)
Program PartnerAcademy for Theatre and DigitalityDortmund, Germany(opens in a new tab)
Program PartnerCentro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi PecciPrato, Italy(opens in a new tab)
