Starting 2026 with feminism, art, connection and good energy

The new year of 2026 did not let us stay long in the festive mood. Almost immediately, it began with a special meeting — welcoming our guests and partners from Poland.

This time, our art space opened its doors to an inspiring feminist organisation from Łódź — KobieTV — who arrived on Madeira within the Erasmus+ project ADU Rococo – Raise of Competence and Collaboration.

At ART HUB MADEIRA, we always build our programmes around the people who come to us. We listen, adapt and create together.

For this visit, we prepared a full creative journey in collaboration with our partners Art Center Caravel and ART Hub Madeira.

Our creative warm-up — seeing the world through a new lens

Armed only with smartphones and surrounded by a mix of unexpected, sometimes chaotic objects — playing cards, textile roses, random materials — the participants explored how to see differently, how to build visual stories and how to trust their creative intuition.

It was not about perfect pictures. It was about creative thinking, artistic vision and the courage to experiment — skills that are especially important for women who want to express themselves, grow and feel confident in the world of art, media and entrepreneurship.

The room quickly filled with laughter, concentration, curiosity and a lot of positive energy. Art once again proved its power to connect, inspire and open new perspectives.

Collage as a mirror: a gentle art therapy journey

When you speak with women about women’s experiences, it is important to keep the language of metaphors. That is why we chose collage as our main tool — a gentle, visual and symbolic way to talk about emotions, identity and inner balance.

The workshop was led by Gestalt psychologist and art therapist Natalia Marachkovskaia — who prepared not just a creative and relaxing session, but also a meaningful therapeutic journey.

Through images, textures and personal symbols, the participants explored topics that many women face today.

In the modern world, women are often expected to fulfil several roles at the same time — professional, mother, partner, carer, creator. They try to be strong, productive, successful and emotionally present, often forgetting about themselves. Burnout, chronic stress, lack of personal space, self-doubt and the pressure to “do it all” are part of everyday reality for many.

The collage process became a safe space to slow down, reflect and reconnect with oneself. It allowed each participant to express what is difficult to say in words — through colour, shape and story.It was a moment of pause, care and deep connection. A reminder that creativity can also be a form of healing.

Where women meet: dialogue, support and new beginnings

When you arrive in a new place not only to enjoy the views — and in this, Madeira is truly beyond competition — but to work, create and build something meaningful, one thing becomes essential: meeting like-minded people.

Our visit to our long-term and trusted partner, the women’s association UMAR, turned into much more than a simple study visit. It became an exchange of stories, experiences, challenges and hopes — and even the starting point of a new joint project.

In a warm, open and supportive atmosphere.

We spoke about what really matters to women today:about violence and safety, about financial independence and access to work, about burnout, emotional exhaustion and the constant pressure to “do it all”.

We talked about care, resilience, solidarity and the importance of creating spaces where women can feel heard, respected and empowered.

It was a meeting full of honesty, strength and sisterhood. A reminder that real change is born in dialogue, trust and collaboration.

A table for everyone: stories, food and belonging

And finally — the most heartwarming part of our journey.

We visited a brand new and truly unique social café created by SocioHabitaFunchal , E.M.— the beautiful Entre Vizinhos Café, located in the Palheiro Ferreiro neighbourhood. This is a place where neighbours meet, where the local community comes together, and where everyday life slowly becomes a little bit easier.

The Café is part of a wider social project developed to support people living in vulnerable situations. It is a space for communication, connection and dignity — a place where everyone is welcome and no one is invisible.

Our visit turned into a real community experience. We explored the neighbourhood, the social grocery shop and the community centre, learning about the daily work with families and residents. We saw how social housing, community gardens, the orchard and local initiatives all come together to create a strong and supportive ecosystem.

And then came the delicious part, we joined a vegan cooking workshop and prepared a traditional Madeiran snack — famous palitos de cerveja. Crispy, golden and full of flavour, they turned into the perfect sustainable Christmas treat.

We cooked, laughed, shared stories and finished the day around one table, tasting our creations and packing the rest into small sustainable bags to take home.

This visit reminded us that social projects are built not only with walls and programmes, but with people, care and everyday gestures that create trust and belonging.

We would like to thank all our partners, friends and collaborators who made this visit possible. Your trust, openness and commitment remind us why international cooperation matters and how powerful women’s networks can be.

A special thank you to all the participants — brave, curious, creative women who came to Madeira not only to learn, but also to share, support and grow together.

This project reminded us that when women come together, incredible things happen. We build bridges, create opportunities, heal, empower and change the world — one story, one idea and one collaboration at a time.

Here’s to new beginnings, strong partnerships and many more journeys filled with art, courage and sisterhood.Until the next adventure.