Students and teachers from four 10th-grade classes will collaborate with four creative groups inspired by the works of artists Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller. Their exhibition, “The Factory of Shadows,” is on display until July 5 at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra.
Titled “Contemporary Art and Transdisciplinary Approaches,” the residency features a series of creative experiences merging various fields of knowledge and artistic practices. The initiative aims to enhance collective work, encourage active public participation, and bridge the gap between art and community, as highlighted by Anozero’25 – Biennial of Coimbra in a statement.
The program at José Falcão elevates Anozero’s cultural and social responsibility, recognizing schools as centers of creation and transformation. Carlos Antunes, the director-general of the biennial, remarked that contemporary art is used as a tool to unlock imagination.
According to Antunes, the residency utilizes art as a methodology that intersects and is intersected by other forms of knowledge, aiming to strengthen the cultural democracy of the regions.
On Friday, school spaces will be transformed into studios and ateliers for artistic experimentation. Students, teachers, and invited artistic groups will collaborate in activities that provoke thought, sharing, and appreciation of participants’ knowledge.
The Semente Atelier, consisting of Inês Moura, Clara Moura, and João Duarte, will explore interdisciplinarity, sustainability, and cultural innovation. The Oficina Imperfeita, led by Luísa Sequeira and Eduardo Sama, will focus on anti-hegemonic poetics through drawing, photography, and experimental cinema.
Meanwhile, the CAU Collective, featuring Filipa Morgado, Miguel Cardinho, Dori Nigro, and Paulo Pinto, proposes school community practices based on affection, ancestry, and social inclusion.
Musician Rui Lopes and theater technician and performer Diogo Lobo will concentrate on sound, movement, and collaborative practices.
“This meeting aims to stimulate new forms of artistic creation and reflection within the school environment, challenging students and teachers to experiment with different ways of creating and experiencing art,” said the organizers.
The processes and outcomes of the collective creation residency will be showcased on May 31 at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova.
