A Future in Assembly
Além Mundus - Associação Cultural
Portugal
Implementation of a democratic laboratory for civic participation and collective artistic creation in Souto-Bioucas, a low-density rural village in Abrantes, with 15 sessions where residents co-design and decide three cultural interventions for public space focused on water. Abrantes faces both excess and scarcity of water due to the Castelo do Bode dam, floodplain construction, a new data centre, pulp industries on the Tagus River, and large-scale eucalyptus plantations. These decisions have made the territory vulnerable and left the community excluded from decision-making and unable to act.
This pilot project gives voice to the community regarding the impact of water resource management. We will develop a laboratory of cultural democracy, civic participation and collective action in a territory that lost 21.30% of its population between 2011 and 2021 (Source: INE). The socio-cultural centre Espaço d’Além will reopen as a space for participation and cultural resistance.
Over 3 months, 15 citizens’ assemblies will act as structured spaces for debate, community organisation and cultural decision-making. The community will define, curate and plan 3 cultural and artistic interventions, culminating in a 2 day public event in the village’s public spaces. The process will be facilitated by the creator-mediator Carolina Serrão, experienced in participatory performing arts, ensuring inclusive and accessible methodologies.
Under the theme Water, chosen by the community, the project fosters reflection on environmental justice, natural resource governance and local climate change impacts. The final sharing will be integrated into Festa do Futuro, strengthening collaboration between residents, artists and cultural agents and reinforcing local civic and cultural networks.