Degree in Artistic and Cultural Mediation (ESELx-IPL): a critical analysis on the role of the mediator and mediation process in the Portuguese context— Cristina Barroso Cruz, Natália Vieira e Laurence Vohlgemuth
Abstract
The changes in the dynamics of the cultural sector in Portugal are increasingly evident creating an growing need to bring artists and cultural producers closer to the public. However, few professionals are able to develop this type of work resorting to a solid theoretical and technical background. These needs led to the creation of the degree in Artistic and Cultural Mediation in 2016-2017 school year, at the Lisbon School of Education (Polytechnic Institute). This undergraduate programme aims to train professionals who are able to establish a relationship between cultural producers and public by developing work strategies effective in hybrid territories that combine different but complementary features such as education, programming, creative and artistic processes, assuming their integrative role. Three years after the start of this undergraduate programme and on the verge to habilitate the first students as professionals, it is important to reflect about the several aspects that influence the development of this degree and what is its contribution to cultural democracy and democratization in Portugal.