“WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US”

This year, Acesso Cultura Week is coming to Covilhã!

Acesso Cultura, a cultural organisation whose mission and values we hold in such high regard, states that “WOOL provides an example of how art and culture can transform a region and its community, with a mission focused on cultural decentralisation, inclusion, and social and territorial cohesion. It believes that Art and Culture are the first line of democratic defence and the source of the community spirit, imagination and resilience that our societies need.

Despite its proven track record over 15 years, the festival has suffered a significant funding cut this year, forcing it to review its programme, scaling back or even cancelling some of its initiatives. How can we explain this lack of support for a solid, necessary project that puts the city of Covilhã on the national and international map of urban art? What do cultural practitioners think about this? And how do citizens and the community feel, having valued not only the initiative but also their active participation in it so highly?”

This will be a conversation about art, participation, communities and standing up for what matters. It will feature testimonies and contributions from Lara Seixo Rodrigues (WOOL festival), Hugo Cruz (specialist in Community Art Practices and Civic and Political Participation) and others they have encountered in community and participatory projects.

+ info on Acesso Cultura Week 2026 HERE