My name is Mara Noto, I was born in Naples in 2002, and I am a cultural and social project designer, a danceducator, and a contemporary dancer. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, Music and Performing Arts and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Multimedia Performance Studies at the University of Salerno. My academic path is strongly intertwined with my artistic background, which includes a diploma in Classical and Modern Dance and a modular professional course in contemporary dance.
My professional interests lie at the intersection of arts, social innovation, and community engagement. I have experience in designing and implementing European cultural projects, especially within associations and third-sector organizations. I currently collaborate with Borderline Danza ETS as both a dancer and cultural project assistant, contributing to the development of EU proposals, call monitoring, and financial reporting. I also work as a danceducator for vulnerable groups, such as adolescents and adults with mental health issues, applying movement as a tool for inclusion and expression.
These experiences have nurtured a deep passion for community-based cultural regeneration, participatory practices, and interdisciplinary project design. My goal is to create projects that combine creative languages, social needs, and accessible funding strategies to empower local actors and foster sustainable development.
I decided to participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme driven by a strong desire to expand my horizons, both professionally and personally. After gaining initial experience in project design and cultural work in Italy, I felt the need to confront myself with different working methods, cultural ecosystems, and entrepreneurial models across Europe.
My motivation comes from both curiosity and strategic planning: I am in the early stages of launching NApplication, a service dedicated to helping small cultural and social organizations access funding opportunities. The EYE programme represents an exceptional opportunity to learn directly from an experienced entrepreneur, refine my business concept, and understand how similar structures operate in other countries.
Moreover, I was inspired by the feedback of colleagues who participated in past editions and spoke highly of the transformative impact of the experience. I see this as a unique chance to leave my comfort zone, establish meaningful international connections, and bring back innovative tools and practices to enrich my work in Italy.
From a professional perspective, I expect this experience to be a turning point. Working alongside an experienced entrepreneur abroad will allow me to:
- Observe best practices in project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement;
- Strengthen my technical and strategic skills, especially in areas like transnational partnerships, sustainability models, and co-design methodologies;
- Test and evolve the NApplication business model, with concrete insights into how to scale and adapt services to different contexts.
It will also contribute to the internationalisation of my work, opening doors to future collaborations and giving me a more robust and competitive profile in the field of EU cultural and social projects.
On a human level, this journey will challenge me to adapt, listen, and grow. Living and working in a different country will enhance my intercultural competence, my resilience, and my ability to collaborate within diverse teams. I am particularly drawn to the idea of learning through real dialogue with other changemakers, exchanging visions, and being part of a broader movement of social innovation.
In sum, the EYE programme aligns perfectly with both my personal aspirations and the mission of NApplication: to build bridges between local initiatives and international opportunities, between vision and action.