The notion of ‘governance’ integrates all governing processes, and may involve a multiplicity of agents and instruments in the construction of an organised society. Being the Government the most formal model of governance, there are multiple possibilities of articulation between public power, the private sector and civil society in the processes of creation and maintenance of social norms and institutions.

In recent decades, traditional, market-oriented public governance systems have proved inadequate to respond to growing political, social, cultural and environmental challenges. There is a demand for a “social turn” (to use Claire Bishop’s term) and even a participatory turn in the exercise of politics, which brings citizens closer to governance and decision-making processes.

Also in the cultural sector, the failure of public policies and market failures have led to the emergence of collaborative experiences that challenge traditional models of cultural governance: collaborative practices, non-hierarchical organisations, new institutional models, decentralised networks and civic participation in decision-making processes contribute to an understanding of culture as resource sharing from a common perspective.

For this edition of the Encounters, we felt urgent to address the theme of participatory cultural governance, calling for different perspectives and emerging practices that give us a new understanding on the management of common cultural goods.

PROGRAM 

DAY 25/10

9:30   |    RECEPTION

10:00 – 11:45   |   PANEL 1: ITINERARIES OF CULTURAL DEMOCRACY

This panel seeks to discuss the views of ‘democratisation of culture’ and ‘cultural democracy’, exploring different dimensions of cultural policies and practices such as accessibility, intersectionality, multi/interculturalism, inclusion, cultural rights and participation in decision-making processes.

MODERATION:

Vera Borges – Research Fellow PhD Sociology at CIES-Iscte. Assistant Professor (LCT-Iscte).

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Ania González – Lawyer specializing in Culture Law and Intellectual Property, Art Critic and Cultural Researcher

João Teixeira Lopes – Sociologist and University Professor

Magda Henriques – Artistic Director of the Comédias do Minho

11:45 – 12:00   |   PAUSE

12:00 – 13:30   |    KEYNOTE SPEAKER: WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOVERNANCE?

Seeking to create a collective understanding around the concept of governance and its different dimensions and expressions, Michel Bauwens addresses the notion of “commons” as an alternative or complementary institution in relation to the Market and the State and that has played a vital role in the regeneration of societies in productive and environmental decline.

MODERATION: João Teixeira Lopes – Sociologist and University Professor

GUEST SPEAKER: Michel Bauwens – founder and director of P2P Foundation

13:30 – 15:00   |    LUNCH BREAK

15:00 – 18:00   |    OPEN TALK: REFERENCE CASES: WAYS TO DO

Considering that participatory cultural governance is still a little explored ground, especially in Portugal, a space for reflection around collaborative cultural practices is proposed, starting from the presentation of some reference cases.

MODERAÇÃO: Alfredo Martins – Associated artist from Teatro Meia Volta e Co-Coordenator of the project “O Público Vai ao Teatro”

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Diego Garulo – Harinera ZGZ (Saragoça)

Chiara Cucca and Gabriella Riccio – Ex Asilo Filangieri (Nápoles)

Sara Duarte and Viviane Almeida – O Público Vai ao Teatro / Comissão de Público

Vânia Mendonça – Costume Museum de São Brás de Alportel and Friends of The Museum

DIA 26/10

10:00 – 13:30   |   PAINEL 2: NEW MODELS OF PARTICIPATORY CULTURAL GOVERNANCE

This second panel proposes a reflection on the challenges and impacts inherent to these new models of cultural governance, equating the necessary changes for their implementation in terms of institutional functioning and public policies, but also their impact on artistic practices and public involvement. This panel will have two rounds of three speakers each.

MODERATION:

Amarílis Felizes – Research Assistant at DINÂMIA’CET-ISCTE, PhD in Political Economics developing thesis on Cultural Policies in Portugal

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Cláudia Pato de Carvalho – Researcher at the Center for Social Studies (CES-UC), in the areas of Community Participation and Cultural Mapping

Daniel Granados – Delegate of Cultural Rights of the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona-Ajuntament de Barcelona

Joana Simões Henriques – Artistic Director and Coordinator of the Educational Service and Public Programs of MAAT (Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia)

Paulo Pires do Vale – Commissioner of the National Arts Plan

13:30 – 15:00   |    LUNCH BREAK

15:00 – 18:00   |    WORKSHOP – PORTUGAL AND CULTURAL GOVERNANCE – WHERE ARE WE?

In this workshop there will be a presentation and analysis of different Portuguese institutions and cultural projects, followed by an exploratory exercise on collaborative formats and implementation strategies in the context of action of each of the institutions, developed in small groups.

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Américo Rodrigues – Direção-Geral das Artes / Portuguese Theatre and Cinematheatre Network

Cláudia Matos – Marvila Municipal Library

Inês de Carvalho – Visões Úteis / Expanding Culture

Paula Garcia – Évora 2027 – Candidate City for the European Capital of Culture

Susana Duarte – Quinta Alegre – Lugar de Cultura (DAC/DMC/CML)