The PARTIS & Art for Change initiative was launched in January 2020 by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the ”la Caixa” Foundation with the objective of fostering and disseminating the civic role of participative art and culture as a driver of change and social transformation. This collaboration results from work both foundations have engaged in within this framework for many years but now strengthening and empowering these efforts. 

The 16 winning projects bring together professionals and non-professionals in shared learning processes, reflecting on and constructing artistic proposals across fields as varied as theatre, music, dance, circus, radio, visual arts and video within the scope of developing individual competences and strengthening the feelings of identity and belonging of communities. 

In addition to Lisbon and Oporto, these projects are to make interventions in new territories, including Terras de Bouro, Montalegre, Vieira do Minho, São João da Madeira, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Elvas and Lagos. 

Highlights include proposals for working with target audiences never before approached within the scope of the project, HIV+ persons, young persons in special needs education, second opportunity schools or individuals institutionalised due to mental disease. Of the regular publics from previous editions, there is a particular emphasis on projects with NEETs – young persons not in education, employment or training –ethnic Romany communities and prison inmates. 

Among the promoting entities, 14 are making their debut in the program, including Cooperativa Árvore (Oporto), P28 Manicómio (Lisbon), Companhia Erva Daninha (Oporto and Gondomar), the UMCOLETIVO cultural association (Elvas), the National Institute of Circus Arts (V.N. Famalicão) and the Rural Vivo (a cultural association in Gerês), among others.  

The total cost of these projects represents an investment of around one million euros, divided equally between the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the ”la Caixa” foundation. All projects are to begin in September and with their durations spanning 24 to 36 months. 

This set of initiatives thus joins the 16 projects selected under the auspices of the first edition of PARTIS & Art for Change, which was launched in January 2021.