Maria Francisca Machado holds a degree in Art History and a Master’s in Sociology – Contexts, Practices and Cultural Policies from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto. In her master’s dissertation, The Evaluation of the Educational Service of the National Museum Soares dos Reis, she explored issues such as accessibility and the role of cultural institutions in the contemporary world. She is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology and a research fellow funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Her research project, entitled Art, Health and Social Integration: A Sociological Analysis of Artistic Practices in Hospital Settings, focuses on the relationship between artistic practices and health.