WOOL TALKS

After last year’s introduction of a new programme section focusing exclusively on thinking about Art and Culture, contextualising them in the reality of our festival and territory, this 2025 edition of WOOL TALKS returns in a smaller format, but one that always broadens the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

On June 27, we return to the CIEC – Centro de Inovação Empresarial da Covilhã, a house that has welcomed us so well, for two presentations that aim to raise pertinent reflections on creation in public spaces, democracy and cultural accessibility, all pertinent and urgent topics to debate in the current scenario of our country, which continues to aspire to be more inclusive, cohesive and decentralised, also culturally.

PROGRAMME

2:30pm
Registration of participants

2:45pm
OPENING session
Lara Seixo Rodrigues, WOOL co-founder
José Miguel Oliveira, Covilhã City Council Councillor

3pm > 4pm
TALK 1 – “From 1.3% to 23%: the public space as a ground for cultural democracy”
– Maria Vlachou (Greece)
– Paulo Fernandes (Portugal) _ moderation

In the early hours of 19 May, journalist Bárbara Reis (Público) reminded us that, in six years, Chega went from 1.3% to 23%. This fact (also stated six years ago by the party’s president) can be analysed from various points of view: political, historical, sociological. We can talk about education and the media. But we should also talk about culture. Why are people, especially young people, attracted to authoritarian views and hate speech? Since the defence of democracy is a joint effort, what is the specific role of culture? When we want cultural democracy and citizen participation, how important is public space in the process?

4pm > 5pm
TALK 2 – “Before – after: public art and contextualisation”
– Olivier Landes (France)
– Doug Gillen (United Kingdom) _ moderation

Unlike the interior spaces where paintings are exhibited, the public space is not neutral. It involves what is often called the “context” of the works, which influences the maturation of artistic projects through architecture, landscape or the history of places. It will be demonstrated in a practical way, through “before/after” images, how context feeds artistic interventions in urban, rural or heritage environments.

(coffee break)

5:30pm > 7pm
GUIDED TOUR of WOOL Urban Art Route, by co-founder Lara Seixo Rodrigues (Portugal)