Application open for the International Conference ‘Shaping Ecological Futures: Arts, Institutions and Cultural Policy’

agenda

DATE

16 Jul 2026

AUTHOR

Umbigo

Application open for the International Conference ‘Shaping Ecological Futures: Arts, Institutions and Cultural Policy’

AUTHOR

Umbigo

The Directorate-General for the Arts (DGARTES), in partnership with CEIS20 at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra, is organising the international conference Shaping Ecological Futures: Arts, Institutions and Cultural Policy, which will take place in Coimbra on 20 and 21 October.

The initiative aims to bring together professionals from the cultural sector, policy-makers, researchers, academics, students and members of the public with an interest in the subject to reflect on sustainability in the arts and cultural policies, fostering a broad dialogue on new forms of action, transformation and adaptation to ecological challenges.

Over the course of two days, the programme will feature lectures, panel discussions and workshops, fostering the exchange of ideas across different fields of knowledge and drawing on national and international experiences. Among the conference’s main objectives are the strengthening of the skills, tools and governance models of the institutions and organisations that form part of the Network of Portuguese Theatres and Cinema-Theatres (RTCP), the Portuguese Contemporary Art Network (RPAC) and the organisations receiving Sustained Support for the Arts, as well as fostering a space for reflection on the integration of sustainability into cultural policies, institutional practices and artistic creation.

Among the key themes are cultural policies in transition, ecological experimentation in arts organisations, and eco-theatrical and eco-fictional approaches. The programme also includes the workshops ‘Mapping Cultural Mobility for Sustainable Futures’, led by Herman Bashiron-Mendolicchio (University of Barcelona); ‘Ecologies of Culture: From conversation to action’, with António Pedro Lopes (Tremor Festival); ‘Culture Powers Communities: Towards Shared Governance between Energy Cooperatives and Cultural Organisations’, facilitated by Vincent Guimas (Green Kommon, France) and Vera Ferreira (Coopérnico, Portugal); and ‘Watery Encounters: A Sound Walk along the Mondego’, led by Jo Scott, artist-researcher and collaborating researcher at CEIS20, University of Coimbra.

Registration for the Conference takes place in two phases: the first, from 29 June to 31 July, is open to organisations within the RTCP and RPAC, and to organisations receiving Sustainable Support for the Arts; the second, running from 24 August to 25 September, is open to other cultural professionals, artists, researchers, teachers, students and members of the public with an interest in the subject. The registration form should be completed here.

The programme is currently being finalised and will be published in full during July. The conference will feature simultaneous interpretation between Portuguese and English, as well as interpretation into Portuguese Sign Language. For further information, please contact the organisers at sustentabilidade@dgartes.pt.

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