Chiara’s Constellation: From the World’s Oldest University to Madeira’s Art Scene

Chiara, you came to Madeira as a student from the world’s oldest university. What led you to this decision?

Actually, it was a series of fortunate coincidences: I was looking at information about the Erasmus+ program for an internship abroad when I opened the list of partner associates of my university, and at the top, I found ARTE.M. I was struck by seeing this name on the list because I had been dreaming of visiting the island of Madeira for years.

However, I still gathered information and reached out to other organizations. Then I checked ARTE.M’s website with all the amazing projects they had carried out, and my heart told me to go for it. So, I contacted Svetlana, who, from our very first meeting, was incredibly welcoming and willing to host me… How could I say no? After all, it was destiny that brought me here.

What surprised you the most about Madeira? Was there anything you found unusual or unexpected?

Definitely the fact that you can go from seeing the sea to being above the clouds at 1,800 meters high in just 20 minutes! I already expected the beauty of nature, but I was still amazed.

The lifestyle was also surprising: everyone here is so calm and relaxed, there is so much peace and silence.

Can you share a bit about your background—what did you study, where, and what are your main academic interests?

My interest in the world of art began many years ago. I attended an art high school, where I fell in love with this field.

I continued my education at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, where I earned a degree in modern literature and where I am now completing my master’s in Visual Arts.

Throughout my studies, I have focused on contemporary art, which is my favorite, but I am also interested in exploring the management of artistic institutions and event organization.

During your time as an intern, what were your favorite projects? What made them special to you?

My favorite project was definitely the one involving the organization and opening of the Domar de Feras exhibition by Carina Mendonça, because it is exactly what I dream of doing in the future.

It gave me the opportunity to understand some aspects of it and interact directly with the artist.

It was also very fun working with the students from the Erasmus+ Art Techno Lab project. The participants were so friendly, and the activities were very engaging!

What was the most rewarding or challenging experience you had while volunteering with our association?

The most rewarding thing was undoubtedly the opportunity to meet so many people who were so different from one another, coming from cultures that were new to me, with unique stories and ways of doing things. It was truly exciting.

As for the challenge, I would say the biggest one was at the beginning—trying to understand what we would be working on, how we would do it, how the various projects and workshops were managed, and how to communicate within the team, especially in a language I’m not used to speaking…

How has this internship influenced your vision of the future? Has it helped shape your career decisions?

It has been very helpful to understand some dynamics in the management of a gallery and an art association.

I realized how much time and effort need to be dedicated to planning, and how important it is to create a community of people to collaborate with. But I also understood how wonderful it is to work on something you are truly passionate about. I’m not sure if my path will lead me to a similar job, but I’ve been reassured that, no matter how hard it is, one must follow their passions because the gratification it brings repays the sacrifices.

If you could give one piece of advice to future interns joining our association, what would it be?

I would tell them to take a few days to fully understand how the association and the internship work, to speak up if they have any suggestions, and to ask for explanations if they have any doubts or questions, as the environment is very relaxed.

What’s your next step after this experience? Where do you see yourself heading next?

I have many plans and projects for the future that I wouldn't know where to start from. For now, I am working on my degree, which will be completed in the next few months, and on another internship in Italy. In the meantime, I am also trying to obtain my tourist guide certification because you never know what life has in store for you.

Describe your best day on Madeira. What made it so unforgettable?

I’ve had so many wonderful days and adventures, so it’s really hard to choose.

Probably, my favorite day happened when I had just arrived here: I was still settling in and hadn’t seen much yet when one of my roommates suggested going to see the sunrise at Pico Arieiro.

The next morning, we woke up early and headed to the mountains, arriving just in time to see the sky filled with beautiful colors; we ate homemade crepes while watching the sunrise. Then, we continued our trip by heading to the Nun’s Valley to admire the view from above, and then we went to Curral das Freiras, where we discovered some local traditions and tasted typical chestnut-based products along with a variety of liquors that were offered to us (yes, they gave us liquor at 10 a. m.).

After a few more stops and a visit to the Fortalesa de São João Baptista do Pico to enjoy the view over Funchal, we finally returned home. I remember that morning with so much joy because, for the first time since I had arrived, I felt included and truly happy with my decision to come.