Study in Venice
Posted On 09-07-2026
Johannes is one of the students who attended the 2026 edition of the Arts in Venice Summer School 'Preserving for the Future'. He had been in Venice during the second semester and he decided to stay a bit longer in town to take part in this multidisciplinary two-week school. These are his impressions.
Hey Joahannes, first of all, can you please introduce yourself?
Ciao! My name is Johannes and I am from Finland. I am almost at the end of my studies in art history in the master’s programme of Cultural Heritage at the University of Helsinki. I have come quite a long way to get to this point, since I first started studying Geography, then switched to the studies of Built Environment at a university of technology, but eventually became a humanist. In the field of Art History, I specialize in the History of Architecture. I also have minors in ancient Greek and Roman cultures and museology.
How long have you been in Venice?
I have been in Venice since the beginning of February 2026 for my Erasmus exchange studies at Ca’ Foscari University. This was already my second Erasmus semester in Italy after Bologna. This time I came to Venice, because I wanted to understand how the city works with its special characteristics and cultural heritage, and how it can survive in these times of mass tourism and environmental challenges. During my Erasmus, I attended interesting courses, for example one about Venetian art, archaeology and heritage in the Mediterranean, and another about culture, heritage and sustainability in the context of international conventions. I also managed to improve my Italian. And above all, I lived in the Castello district in historical Venice and experienced the everyday life here, which is sometimes a bit challenging, but really inspiring.
Why did you apply to the Arts in Venice Summer School?
The summer school sounded to match my interests, and since I was already in Venice, the decision to apply was easy for me. And in the end, I am very happy with the experience. It deepened many perspectives of Venice and preservation, and it was really a highlight of my time here. It gave me a lot of content that I can also apply in my home country. Especially, because I am interested in the historical influences and interaction between Italy and the Nordic countries in architecture and art, but also in comparing different approaches and practices in preserving cultural heritage.
Something especially good that you would like to highlight about the summer school?
The multidisciplinary nature of the summer school was valuable. Diversity was also visible in our group of students representing various fields of study from different European countries. We had many interesting conversations both in the classes and during free time.
The most memorable experience in the program was probably the concert on boats in the lagoon with a local rowing club. It was an incredibly beautiful moment. Another thing I really appreciated was seeing and trying out to carve a marble block at the Academy of Fine Arts. Hands-on work is refreshing for a student like me who is in a theoretical field.
And now, what are the next steps in your life after Venice?
I am going to continue with the theme of preservation, but back in Finland, where I will do an internship in a municipal museum. I will also continue my part-time job as a guide in The Alvar Aalto Foundation and will soon complete my master studies. Then at some point as soon as possible, I hope to return to Italy, for shorter or longer periods of time. In the future, my aim is to work as a professional in the field of built environment and heritage preservation.