SOMA Cultura is a women-led association with extensive experience in the humanitarian and cultural sectors.
Aixa Figini
Co-funder | Artistic Director
Aixa Figini is an Argentine musician, artistic director and cultural manager based in Lisbon, with over 20 years of experience in the cultural sector. She holds a degree in Musical Arts from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master’s in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths, University of London. She has worked in programming, production and cultural management for institutions in Argentina, Chile and the UK, including Sound and Music and the Hellensmusic festival, which she continues to manage. Alongside this work, she pursues an artistic and educational career focused on improvisation, collective music-making and oral traditions. At SOMA cultura, she is responsible for the artistic direction of projects centred on creative processes, intercultural collaboration and programming.
Saghar Hamidzade
Co-funder | Project Manager
Saghar has 10+ years of experience in project management and business development across technology, international development, and humanitarian sectors. Her career started in management consulting at Deloitte in Washington, DC where she spent 4 years working on solving operational and strategy challenges for public sector clients. Saghar has managed field operations and implementation of technical and humanitarian projects in Yemen, Syria, Palestine, working directly with local populations and end-users. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in securing funding, building partnerships, and driving operational efficiency.
Maria Kopke
Co-funder | Communication
A Portuguese-Brazilian writer, performer, and facilitator, Maria has a background in music and theatre. Her training includes studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Lisbon, Access to Music College in London, and the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon, where she completed a Master’s degree in Comparative Studies. She has experience in digital communications, having collaborated with various brands and cultural organisations. She has written about the intersection of the arts and social impact for publications such as Dezanove and Público (P3). She was one of the artists featured in the project A Arte de Construir Cidadania (Tinta da China, 2022). She has led numerous workshops exploring the performing arts and social impact, as part of Erasmus+ projects and social inclusion initiatives for young people in collaboration with local organisations. She has also spoken at events organised by HeForShe and the British Council.
