So here we are. It’s 2014, the New Year, a time when we tend to focus on what the future has in store for us whilst at the same time reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned from the past. In keeping with this spirit, our first event of 2014, held on 14 January to launch our new participatory arts strand illustrated just how integral our prior experience has been in shaping current work.

This new activity strand builds on work we have previously supported including: a study which produced some of the first definitive evidence of the benefits of cultural participation, a review of the evaluations of the projects supported through our participatory performance art award and draws on a review of more recent literature. The objective of the new strand will be to improve the well-being of under-served or disadvantaged individuals and communities through participation in performances of the highest artistic quality.

After much deliberation, we decided that the starting point for the strand should be an open call for ideas followed by a networking event to identify where interest, gaps and enthusiasm for collaboration around this topic exists. Once collaborations have been established, fully developed proposals will be evaluated by the Foundation and a limited number of projects will then be supported through to production. An important element of the work, inspired in part by our Portuguese Visual Arts programme, will be exchange of practice between arts practitioners within the UK and internationally.

The event concluded with a performance-based installation at Shoreditch Town Hall, inspired by works from Luso-British artist Dame Paula Rego. This seemed to us to be the perfect way to mark our progression from our Portuguese Visual Arts programme, to our work focusing on the performing arts. In true Gulbenkian style, it illustrates how we look for synergies, connecting different art forms, areas of activity and cultures.

Göze Saner – The Salmon-Coloured Dress
from YOU LOOKING AT ME
Photo by Chiara d’Anna