FUTURΛ Seminar

Curatorial Practices for Transformation ✴︎ Reprogramming the Real through Performance & Micro-Revolutions

FUTURΛ is an annual seminar dedicated to critical reflection on curatorship and artistic direction in the performing arts. At a time when artistic leadership roles are becoming increasingly fragile or disappearing, and curatorship is often reduced to temporary and discontinuous formats, FUTURΛ asserts the importance of curatorial thinking as a critical, situated and transformative practice.

From an intersectional feminist perspective, it brings together performing arts professionals to reflect on curatorship as an artistic, political and social practice. Over two days, participants explore methodologies that challenge conventional models, understanding curatorship as an expanded field and a site of negotiation and contestation, while discussing alternative forms of cultural mediation, artistic accompaniment and artistic leadership. The seminar also reflects on curatorship across different geographies and contexts, its possible restarts, and the need to create more hybrid, sustainable and politically engaged formats. Treating decolonisation as an ongoing process of unlearning, it proposes the rebuilding of relations based on interdependence and a rethinking of belonging.

FUTURΛ is, therefore, a space for listening, critical exchange and collective imagination, where multiple perspectives intersect and where thinking about possible futures begins with attending to the present with courage, care and radical openness.

Produce Less, Sustain More

23–24 October 2026
materiais adversos weekend
Minde & Alcanena

In this context, FUTURΛ proposes a seminar dedicated to the sustainability of contemporary artistic creation, aimed at programmers, artists and cultural practitioners. Drawing on the principles of mieux produire and mieux diffuser, the meeting seeks to reflect on more ethical, sustainable and committed ways of supporting artists and artworks, rethinking models of co-production, risk-sharing, funding, international circulation and artistic research.

Taking place within the framework of the materiais adversos weekend in Minde and Alcanena, FUTURΛ offers a space for critical thinking, exchange and the sharing of practices between national and international professionals, with the aim of contributing to more resilient, decentralised and cooperative cultural ecosystems. The discussion also focuses on building stronger and more coherent distribution circuits capable of countering overproduction and under-distribution, extending the lifespan of works, optimising resources and strengthening the cultural, economic and social impact of contemporary creation.

This meeting takes place within the framework of an initiative supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Institut français (PICC), dedicated to strengthening transnational networks of artistic cooperation and to experimenting with more sustainable models of production, circulation and support for contemporary creation.

2026

Anne Kerzerho & to be announced

2025

Silvia Bottiroli & Alessandra Mattana with the participation of Gaya de Medeiros & Piny

Registration and program available soon.