Get Phoebe to Barcelona!

If you’re reading this, you probably already know me, but I’m going to introduce myself for those who may not know me. My name is Phoebe Fuller, and I am a Senior at Augustana College double majoring in Creative Writing and Art. I will be participating in a Study Abroad program through Augustana that will take us to art hubs like Barcelona and Madrid–cities that are described to be pieces of art themselves. A large part of the trip will be going to museums that specialize in art and in social conversations, and then taking inspiration from the establishments we visit when we make our own art during the trip.

I have always been interested in both art and anthropology, and this trip will allow me to combine the two. In both writing and art, I love to learn the personal history of a work. There are many things that influence an art piece or a text such as environment, background, personal experiences, subconscious thoughts, and even things we would never think about. This trip would give me the opportunity to understand how one’s background and culture affects not only the finished product, but also the process in which the piece is made.

Along with assessing art in an objective manner by learning the way the artist’s life has influenced their work, I will also get the opportunity to hypothesize what might have influenced it in a way I wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to. I, too, am a product of my environment, and have a very specific way of thinking. By stepping out of the Midwest where I was born and raised, I can immerse myself in a different culture and broaden my understanding of art and how I think about creative processes.

The beauty of studying abroad and being immersed in an environment that you aren’t familiar with is that it stays with you. I know I will be inspired by what I visually see in Barcelona, but this expansion of how to think will help me improve not just as an artist, but as a student and, generally, as a person.

Augustana is a liberal arts college that just so happens to be in the same city that I was born in. This is a difficult contrast because I feel as if I am a great representation of the goal of liberal arts institutions— to teach one how to think, not what to think. I struggle with this, though, because I haven’t left this area very many times, and I can imagine that I have much, much more to learn about how to think. Part of this skill comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone, and that is what this trip would provide for me. Truly, learning how to think is profound, because it allows one to be more critical and explorative of their own thoughts and beliefs. That being said, I have currently lived my entire life in the same environment and culture with the same people and social norms.

I strive to be creative, empathetic, open-minded, and educated. I can objectively say that I am on track to being those things, but there is always more to learn, and this Study Abroad program would be life-changing. This is a transformative time of my life, and I want to use it to the fullest to become the person I need myself to be.

This trip is estimated to cost ~$6,000 including airfare, meals, housing, etc. I am seeking help to fund this trip so I can focus on my academic work until the program begins in January 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Thank you for reading, and I appreciate your consideration whether you choose to donate or not. <3