The “Porto Santo Charter” is a key-document outlining guidelines and policy recommendations to promote and reinforce the importance of Culture, Arts, Heritage and Education sectors for the resilience of democracy and a full cultural citizenship.
This Charter is the result of a participatory and democratic process, with all its challenges and potential. Discussion meetings were held with representatives of the Member-States, as well as European cultural networks and organisations, to support its contents, from values and principles to policy measures.
This document presents an ambitious vision that encompasses diversity, social cohesion and citizenship, by thinking strategically about the role of intersecting culture and education policies. The goal is to promote cultural institutions also as into educational territories, and educational institutions as cultural centres. It envisages culture as an open space for each citizen to participate and take responsibility for shaping their own culture – and everyone’s culture.
Democracy as methodology
A Charter about Cultural Democracy and participation must incorporate these values in its own creation. This was the methodological challenge that was set. Here is the design sprint, as a step by step process:
The National Plan for the Arts created a draft document with guidelines for discussion.
Work in online discussion groups, joining European networks and organisations linked to Culture, Arts, Heritage and Education.
The National Plan for the Arts created a new version of the guidelines with the contributions of Phase 1.
This document was shared with all the creators and in the second phase.
Informal meeting with representatives of the EU member countries, linked to the Culture and Education Ministeries, as well as task forces and other bodies. The Porto Santo Charter was discussed, the representatives shared their experiences and projects.
Meanwhile, some of the European networks promoted internal or sectorial meetings, joining more contributions.
The National Plan for the Arts will create the final version of the Porto Santo Charter, with the critical analysis and contribution of all the participants in the workflow
This key document will be published under the designation of “Porto Santo Charter”, outlining guidelines and policy recommendations to promote and reinforce the importance of Arts & Heritage for the resilience of our shared democracy.
The Creators
The charter is the result of the shared work of a large number of countries and organizations that contributed to the definition of its ethos and collaborated in the redaction of its final text:
All Digital
Non-Governmental Organization
Belgium – Vlaanderen
European Union member state’s region
Culture Action Europe
Non-Governmental Organization
Belgium – Féderation Wallonie-Bruxelles
European Union member state’s region
ECCOM
Non-Governmental Organization
Bulgaria
European Union member state
European Network of Observatories
Non-Governmental Organization
Croatia
European Union member state
Europeana Education Community
Non-Governmental Organization
Cyprus
European Union member state
European Cultural Foundation
Non-Governmental Organization
Czechia
European Union member state
European Foundation Centre
Non-Governmental Organization
France
European Union member state
European Network of Cultural Centres
Non-Governmental Organization
Greece
European Union member state
INSEA
Non-Governmental Organization
Hungary
European Union member state
InterArts
Non-Governmental Organization
Lithuania
European Union member state
NEMO
Non-Governmental Organization
Luxembourg
European Union member state
ICOMOS Portugal
Non-Governmental Organization
Netherlands
European Union member state
ICOM Portugal
Non-Governmental Organization
Romania
European Union member state
ICOM Europe
Non-Governmental Organization
Slovakia
European Union member state
International Teaching Artist Collaborative
Non-Governmental Organization
Slovenia
European Union member state
Michael Culture
Non-Governmental Organization
Sweden
European Union member state
Trans Europe Halles
Non-Governmental Organization
Norway
European Economic Area member state
Plano Nacional das Artes
Governmental Task Force
Portugal
European Union member state
The Future
The Porto Santo Charter is not a closed, binding document. It is the beginning of dialogue across Europe, joining government officials, experts, networks, organizations and practitioners in a fruitful conversation about outlining guidelines and policy recommendations to promote and reinforce the collaboration of Culture, Arts, Heritage and Education sectors for the resilience of democracy.
If you wish to join the informal network and contribute to this Charter, mapping values, guidelines and recommendations, please contact us through organisation@portosantocharter.eu. Thank you!