The International office of the Portuguese Ministry of Culture (GPEARI/MC) is organizing a seminar on the 23rd of November in Lisbon to reflect on the main issues involving the mobility of artists and cultural operators as well as to promote some of the projects, tools and organisations active in supporting this internationalisation.

Portugal and the Portuguese have historically and culturally been connected to migrations and mobility. The country paradox geographical location in between Europe, Africa and America makes it central and peripheral at the same time. What happens with the mobility of the arts and culture sector? How important is it? How can it be promoted?

The report published end of last year by the Observatory of Cultural Activities (OAC) on the International mobility of artists and other professionals active in the field of culture, indicates that the internationalisation of Portuguese artists and institutions is surprisingly or not minute.

Find the full study here (in Portuguese).

Read the executive summary (in English).

The programming of foreign performances in Portugal is growing yet it is still limited in number and diversity. On the other side, the integration of Portuguese producers in international circuits is modest. Although internationalisation is generally acknowledged as a strategic objective in symbolical terms, international activity is residual. The report points at a reduced participation in international programmes and a reduced percentage of expenses and income generated by internationalisation.

However, paradoxically, again, the study also singles out certain dynamism in the participation in co-productions and in organising artistic residencies that involve international partnerships. This counter reaction might well be connected with the vivid interest even curiosity to relate and work with others cross-borders but also economic needs to participate in the international market that Portuguese artists and operators experience.

In addition, the study also showed that existing information on the subject of international mobility is non-exhaustive and generally fragmented. Information shortcomings and its impact on the decision to move or on the success of mobility experiences have been acknowledged as the most relevant obstacles to mobility by several other studies and also taken closely in consideration within the recommendations of the OMC group on the mobility of culture professionals established in the framework of the European Agenda for Culture in which Portugal has been actively participating. As a matter of fact, this study was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to deliver systematized and useful information to feed the Portuguese participation to this exact OMC group.

Going back to the upcoming seminar announcement, one of the programme highlights is precisely the presentation of the group main recommendations by Portuguese expert and representative to this OMC working group, António Pinto Ribeiro.

The opening will be held by the Minister of Culture and other confirmed speakers are Richard Poláček, author of the Study on Impediments to Mobility in the EU Live Performance Sector, musician Kalaf from Buraka Som Sistema, choreographer Vera Mantero and João Brites from Teatro O Bando.

Languages will be Portuguese, French and English.

Date: 23rd of November 2010

Venue: Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), Lisbon

Schedulle: 10h-13h e 14.30-17.30h

Register for free, preferably before the 17th of November by e-mailing: jose.montargil@gpeari.pt 

More information and registration: www.gpeari.pt