The Study Abroad Experience

During my academic career at FIT, I had the joy of being able to experience two study abroad semesters in Florence, Italy at the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute. One semester took place during my associate’s degree in Fine Arts and the second during my bachelor’s in Art History and Museum Professions, in part thanks to scholarships such as the FIT Global Scholar Award. The experience I had studying abroad was invaluable both for the cultural experiences as well as the academic knowledge I gained. Studying outside of the United States widened my scope of the art world and enabled me to have a more well-rounded academic career. While studying, I had access to an amazing list of in-depth art history courses where we paired lectures with class trips to stunning historical basilicas, palaces, and museums. Other courses focused on contemporary art practices, which provided insights as to how art management practices differ between Europe and the United States. Additionally, studying abroad presents the unique possibility to learn a foreign language, an invaluable skill to have when pursuing a career in the arts. Being situated in the center of Italy made it easy to travel throughout the country in beautiful cities such as Rome and Naples, where there’s even more ancient art history to experience. I was also lucky enough to visit other nearby countries such as Switzerland, Spain, and France. I’m so appreciative of my study abroad semesters and enjoyed them so much that they influenced me to continue my academic career abroad, where I’m currently completing a master’s degree in Economics and Management of the Arts and Cultural Activities at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy.

Ann Christensen, AHMP ‘21