Dançando com a Diferença hosts more debates Acesso Cultura

On the 17th of April, at 6:30pm, the city of Funchal will join Évora, Lisbon, Porto, S. Brás de Alportel and Vila Nova de Famalicão to discuss "Can cultural organizations make politics? Should they?". This is again an Acesso Cultura initiative that will take place in the Autonomous Region of Madeira due to the collaboration of Dançando com a Diferença.

This debate will take place at the Headquarters of the Dançando com a Diferença group and follows on from a last debate that had as discussion topic "Is Communication Design Elitist?" and whose public receptivity was in very positive.

The debates began in October 2013 discussing 'Public service, museums and photography: what limits?' Since then several other themes were addressed, initially only in Lisbon and Porto, in a second phase extending to other cities. Nowadays these debates assume an important function in promoting the discussion about the role of different cultural entities in their environment and in civil society.

Can cultural organizations make politics? Should they? The question could also be put this way: Can cultural organizations be neutral? Should they be? Where neutrality is advocated, there seems to be some confusion about what is meant by "political" (and "partisan"). There is also some concern about alienating some of the public by advocating certain political positions. On the other hand, there are more and more cultural organizations wanting to assume their responsibilities in what is thought, debate, and practice within our common life in the city (polis) and the world. Some see this as an obligation, others as a certain opportunism. Guardianships are not always comfortable. What are the risks for cultural organizations in taking one position or the other? What are the expectations of citizens?

In an informal debate that seeks great interaction with the public, the composition will have the presence of 03 guests who, in 05 minutes, will each present their perspective on the basic theme and 01 moderator who will promote interaction between guests and public.

For Funchal the panel of guests is composed by

Ester Vieira - Director of ATEF and Artistic Director of Oficina Versus Teatro

Maurício Reis - Responsible for Porta 33

Paulo Esteireiro - Musical Sociology and Aesthetics Study Center

Moderator: Filipe Gonçalves - Journalist

The debate "Can cultural organizations do politics? Should they?" will take place at the Headquarters of Dançando com a Diferença - Rua dos Barcelos Nº9 R/C, between 6:30pm and 8:00pm on Tuesday April 17th. Participation and attendance is free and open to all kinds of audiences.

Those who wish to reserve a place can do so until April 16th through email: [email protected] or Numero: +351 92 706 9966