Making culture is about building commons. Cultural and artistic practices are inherently collective: they are rooted in communities, strengthen a sense of belonging, and help improve the places where they take place.

Starting from this broader understanding of cultural practice, the opening conference of Isto é PARTIS & Art for Change 2026 explored the role of cultural participation in fostering local and community development.

The keynote speaker was Eliana Sousa Silva, founder of Redes da Maré (Brazil), who presented the work developed by the organisation in a group of favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Her intervention highlighted the close connection between cultural practices, the defence of basic rights, and a long-term commitment to the well-being of communities.

The following panel focused on how artistic and cultural practices can strengthen community ties. Representatives from Associação de Moradores PER11, Coletivo Espaço Invisível, Ecos Urbanos, Nossa Fonte and Kubata discussed the importance of creating and growing projects from within the territories and communities themselves.

The second panel addressed the relationship between territories, communities and public policies. Eliana Sousa Silva, Pedro Adão e Silva, Anabela Rodrigues and António Brito Guterres discussed strategies for strengthening local power and development through cultural and civic participation.

The conference closed with a participatory session led by Virgílio Varela, inviting those present to collectively reflect on what a policy for cultural participation could look like.

Final remarks were delivered by the poet Alice Neto de Sousa.