Study in Venice
Posted On 01-08-2025
Julie was one of the fourteen students who attended the 2025 edition of the Arts in Venice Summer School. Her stay in Italy was partially funded by an Erasmus+ mobility. This is what she told us about her experience.
Hello Julie, can you please tell us something about you?
Hello, my name is Julie, I am French, and I am 20 years old. I am currently in the second year of a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Traveling is in my opinion an opportunity to understand this world together with other people who teach me their knowledge, I believe it is the best way to understand the world through the disciplines that fascinate me. Art is a facet that sculpts this world, which I wish to know better.
Are you happy with your experience in Venice?
I am very satisfied with this experience, I discovered Venice as a rich cultural place and in a very privileged way accompanied by fascinating and committed teachers. It fully met my expectations and I even met new friends with whom I enjoyed the experience to the fullest.
Did you get any funding to attend the summer school?
I had an Erasmus+ grant to cover the costs of the journey and partially the registration fees. I was assisted throughout the process by the Erasmus program manager of my institution in France: indeed it required some administrative procedures and I am grateful I could count on her assistance. Overall, I had to dedicate some time to properly fill in the administrative forms.
Photography is one of your hobbies: have you found any special inspiration in the lagoon?
I used photography to keep a way of practicing an artistic discipline during the stay. I was very inspired by the topics discussed during the different lessons, and I really enjoyed working with photography. I let myself be guided by what caught my eye. And this omnipresent water, is obviously the first thing that intrigued me. The water of the lagoon casts light with dancing light effects. This allowed me to continue my research around light and its impacts in different environments.
You said you study Fine Arts in France: can you tell us something about the workshop curated by prof. Arthur Duff?
In my study program, I often participate in this kind of exercises. I enjoyed the way in which Arthur Duff invited us to consider artistic creation through the discovery of Venice. I found that his pedagogy was very relevant and open to all. Each of us was able to consider artistic creation according to our own personality and intuition. He knew how to guide us towards simple avenues of reflection and within everyone’s reach. I really appreciated this artistic proposal and I intend to use his tips in the continuation of my studies.
One activity that somehow surprised you?
I was very surprised by the visit of the lagoon by dragon boat, this very playful activity pleased me a lot, it allowed us to have a very fun time all together from the beginning of the stay and to create bonds of friendship.
After two weeks in Venice, what is now your idea of this fragile city?
This stay allowed me to understand certain issues that were not so familiar to me. Venice is a very fragile place and suffers from different environmental issues related to climate change, but not only. This place deserves to survive both on the map and in its pure essence: Venice is a treasure city, which hides its resources and knowledge despite the dramatic effects of mass tourism. It is so rich in all artistic fields, for example.
I believe that Venice can preserve its heritage and identity especially by the sharing of knowledge. I would like to come back in town at the end of my studies to better study it and participate, in one way or another, in its conservation.
How was sharing your experience with a group of international students?
Living with these students whom I did not know before coming is one of the most positive points of the trip. Thanks to them, I could talk about the topics discussed in class, also learn things about what they study, their lives, their countries and their passions, and especially meet new friends. Of course in these two weeks we did not have much time to rest, but we have taken advantage together of every opportunity that has been offered to us.
Last but not least, this experience has been the ultimate confirmation that I want to study abroad in the future in the framework of an Erasmus+ student mobility.
What are your plans for the future?
I am going to finish my degree in the School of Fine Arts and then I will try to travel abroad for a while to continue this research dynamic. I would like to make my own experience of the world so that I can better address this subject in my artistic work.