Location

Porto, Portugal

Program Description

Open to dance, music, and art majors, this program is an immersive exploration of museum-based interdisciplinary performance. Through this course, students will delve into themes inspired by the works on exhibit at the Serralves Museum in Porto, Portugal. In addition to studying the exhibitions at Serralves, students will participate in a collaborative development process culminating in a site-specific performance of dance and music, to be showcased at the museum and other cultural venues throughout Porto. The project includes rehearsals, readings, and live performances, offering students a unique opportunity to expand their artistic practice while engaging deeply with a new cultural context.

Study abroad in Porto and experience the work of Paula Rego, Júlio Pomar, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, and Vieira da Silva in the galleries of the Serralves Museum, Soares dos Reis National Museum, and contemporary art spaces throughout the city. Spend a lazy afternoon people-watching along the Ribeira waterfront or in the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. Explore the city’s acclaimed food scene, from traditional francesinha to Michelin-starred dining. Portugal’s second-largest city offers a rich blend of historical character and creative energy, with a vibrant arts community, dynamic nightlife, and strong maritime heritage.

To enhance their understanding of Portuguese art and culture, students will also travel to Lisbon and surrounding towns, visiting art museums, historical sites, and sources of inspiration for their creative work. Lisbon’s vibrant atmosphere, scenic beauty, and accessible scale make it an ideal location to explore Portugal’s cultural legacy. The city is enriched with theaters, concerts, and museums that reflect the artistic depth and diversity of the country.

Students will participate in a 3-week rehearsal process, live performances, museum visits, and research on artwork. There will be some pre-work done virtually to research the exhibits and locations.

Location Description

Study abroad in Porto and experience the work of Paula Rego, Júlio Pomar, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, and Vieira da Silva in the galleries of the Serralves Museum, Soares dos Reis National Museum, and local contemporary art spaces. Spend a lazy afternoon people-watching along the Ribeira waterfront or in the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. Undertake an in-depth exploration of the city’s renowned food scene, from traditional francesinha to Michelin-starred dining. Portugal’s second-largest city offers a compelling blend of old-world charm and contemporary innovation, with a thriving arts community, dynamic nightlife, and a strong sense of identity rooted in its maritime and mercantile past. The city of Lisbon is ideal for foreign students because of its vibrant atmosphere and walkable scale. It is a great location to explore and experience Portuguese culture and history. Lisbon is enriched with theatres, concerts, and museums that reflect the cultural depth and diversity of Portugal’s heritage.

Director

Rubén Graciani | graciarg@jmu.edu | Visual and Performing Arts

Lina Akopov | akopovly@jmu.edu | Visual and Performing Arts

Accommodations

Accommodations will be provided for all students. All students will be in a shared double-bed furnished hotel room or a dorm-style apartment in Porto. Housing accommodations are centrally located, and public transportation is easily accessible.

Students will be allocated a weekly meal stipend that will cover approximately 10 meals per week.

Additional Items to Consider

Program fee includes internship placement, excursions/activities, health insurance, housing, and two meals per day. Airfare and spending money are not included.

Once an application is submitted, students will be sent an additional survey to provide more information about placement preferences and language level.

The experience also satisfies the International Business study abroad requirement and may fulfill some internship requirements for certain majors.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.5

Open to CVPA and SMAD majors of all class levels.

Open to non-JMU students.