Our new Communications Assistant and EDUFI intern Margareeta Lauronen joined our team this week. Here she tells us a bit about her background, passions and why she chose to join our Institute in Brussels!
« Dear all, I’m excited to tell you about my first days in Brussels and my experience working as an intern at the Institute. The honeymoon phase with the city is going strong – Brussels has shown me its best side with sunny days and lively, bustling streets!
First of all, the team at the Institute is lovely, and I have felt very warmly welcomed. I also received an excellent introduction to all my tasks, which I truly appreciate. One of the reasons I applied for this internship was to learn more about communication and strategies, since I already had experience in production work. During the first week, I’ve already gained a lot of knowledge about this, and it feels so good!
This internship is a dream come true. It’s an incredible opportunity to learn how institutes operate and how networks are built in the international field of culture. In the future, I want to work in the international art scene, and I believe that this internship will provide valuable insights into that world.
My background is in the performing arts and circus. I hold a master’s degree in theatre research, and my secondary subjects were gender studies and art history. This combination was ideal because it gave me tools to analyse art from both past and present perspectives. “Soft values” guide my actions and work. Art creates realities and offers space to think, see, and experience differently. Through this internship, I’m able to take part in creating spaces and moments for unheard voices, unseen bodies on stage, and unexperienced feelings.
Here in Brussels, my free-time plans include exploring the cabaret and queer art scene, reading, biking, dancing, and doing crosswords. Hopefully, I’ll also find a place to swim! »
Margareeta joins us as part of the EDUFI Internship, a granted internship programme coordinated and funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Cover photo: Tilda Forss / Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux