Lisbon Transnational Meeting

The Access network went on a virtual fieldtrip to the peripheries of Lisbon, where the Muro Urban Art Festival took place. Neighbourhoods were transformed into a playground for urban artistic expression to allow voices of the residents to be heard, to be legitimated, and to sediment in the history of the area.

From Wednesday the 17th, until Friday the 19th, the ACCESS network travelled virtually to Lisbon for the first Transnational meeting of 2021. Three days dedicated to sharing best practices, networking and inspiration.

On day one the ACCESS network went on a virtual fieldtrip to the peripheries of Lisbon, where the Muro Urban Art Festival took place. Neighbourhoods were transformed into a playground for urban artistic expression to allow voices of the residents to be heard, to be legitimated, and to sediment in the history of the area.

On the second day, Bill Thompson (technology writer, BCC digital planet) gave a masterclass on the possibilities and obstacles of digital inclusion for the cultural sector, an insight into how to retain the openness of the audience. During the afternoon Alexandra Sabino (City Council Lisbon) and Rubén Teodoro (Colectivo Warehouse) took the Access network on a virtual journey to Rossio de Palma Square. A popular neighbourhood where a village-style square is been surrounded by high modern buildings which drew away the local inhabitants. In order to reconnect with these locals a cultural dimension has been added to the original rehabilitation plan of the square. Provoking the re-appropriation of this public space through artistic interventions, participatory projects and events focused on the shared memories and living experiences of its inhabitants.

The final day of the virtual transnational meeting, Clara Amante (Head of Academia, Gerador) and Tiago Sigorelho (founder Gerador) hosted for the entire network a presentation about Barómetro Gerador Qmetrics; the only existing opinion study that researches the relevance and consumption of culture as it is perceived by the Portuguese population.

The virtual journey to Lisbon ended with home cooked virtual dinners served by the Lisbon team in their homes. We are looking back on three amazing sessions and looking forward to our next Transnational meeting in June!