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Description
Dentes de Leão was developed to address cultural and social disparities in the municipalities of Évora and Sardoal, where limited access to cultural activities and low participation in public life—particularly among young people—were pressing issues. These regions also struggled with an ageing population, youth emigration, and poor mobility. The project sought to empower artists and cultural professionals by increasing their visibility, promoting intergenerational collaboration, and leveraging local resources.
To achieve this, Dentes de Leão brought together young people from Évora, Sardoal, and Lisbon, along with artists from the Évora and Santarém districts. This collaboration produced five new artistic works, showcased in a Participatory Arts Cycle held in all three locations, complemented by a conference and a closing forum. The project also included a training programme on participatory arts, featuring workshops for emerging artists and a course for local cultural agents. A final publication and a documentary were created to capture and share the project’s outcomes.
The initiative successfully provided young participants with opportunities for creative exchange and personal growth, while artists gained recognition and expanded their professional networks. The main beneficiaries were young people and artists, who gained new skills, broader perspectives, and stronger community ties.
Summary of project results
Dentes de Leão aimed to address several interconnected challenges in the municipalities of Évora and Sardoal, which were characterised by significant cultural and social disparities. One of the primary issues was the limited access to cultural participation and artistic production, particularly among young people. These regions faced a lack of engagement in public spaces, exacerbated by an ageing population and the difficulty of retaining younger residents, who often migrated to urban centres in search of better opportunities. Additionally, poor mobility within and between these areas further restricted cultural exchange and access to creative resources.
Another key challenge was the invisibility of local artists and cultural professionals, who struggled to establish themselves and gain recognition within their own communities. The project identified a need to strengthen networks among artists and between artists and the public, as well as to create platforms for intergenerational collaboration. This was seen as essential for revitalising cultural activity and ensuring that local talent could thrive without needing to relocate to larger cities.
The project also sought to address the scarcity of specialised training and professional development opportunities in participatory arts, which limited the capacity of cultural agents to innovate and engage with diverse audiences. Without such support, the cultural sector in these regions risked stagnation, further widening the gap between urban and rural areas in terms of artistic vibrancy and community involvement.
Finally, the project recognised the broader challenge of sustainability in cultural initiatives. Many previous efforts had been short-lived due to insufficient funding, weak partnerships, or a lack of long-term planning. Dentes de Leão aimed to create lasting impact by fostering collaborations that could endure beyond the project’s timeline, though this aspect proved difficult to fully accomplish.
By addressing these challenges, the project sought to enhance cultural accessibility, empower local artists, and create a more dynamic and inclusive cultural environment in Évora and Sardoal, while also contributing to the broader discourse on cultural equity in peripheral regions.
Dentes de Leão implemented a series of interconnected activities designed to foster cultural collaboration, artistic creation, and professional development in the municipalities of Évora and Sardoal. At its core, the project facilitated a creative partnership between three groups of young people—two from these localities and one from Lisbon—alongside emerging artists from the Évora and Santarém districts. This collaboration resulted in the production of five original artistic works, which were showcased in a Participatory Arts Cycle held across Évora, Sardoal, and finally Lisbon. These presentations were accompanied by a conference and a closing forum, providing platforms for dialogue and reflection on the project’s themes and outcomes.
A significant component of the project was its training programme, which focused on participatory arts and included three artistic laboratories aimed at nurturing the skills of young artists. Additionally, a specialised course was offered for cultural agents in the region, equipping them with methodologies to engage communities through art. The project’s outputs extended beyond live events, culminating in the production of a publication and a video documentary. Both were made available online, ensuring wider dissemination of the project’s insights and creative works.
The bilateral dimension of the project involved partnerships with international organisations, including the Academy of the Senses from Iceland and OsloMet from Norway. The Icelandic partner contributed to the artistic development and training of participating artists, while the Norwegian institution supported monitoring, evaluation, and the final publication. These collaborations enriched the project by introducing international perspectives and strengthening its methodological framework.
Dentes de Leão succeeded in creating meaningful opportunities for artistic expression, professional growth, and cross-cultural exchange, leaving a tangible legacy through its creative outputs and training initiatives.
Dentes de Leão achieved several significant outcomes for its diverse group of beneficiaries, while also revealing certain limitations in its long-term impact. For young participants from Évora, Sardoal and Lisbon, the project created valuable opportunities for creative collaboration, personal development and expanded horizons. These young people gained direct experience in artistic creation through their involvement in producing five new participatory artworks, while also benefiting from intergenerational exchange and exposure to new cultural perspectives. The project successfully addressed its aim of increasing youth engagement in cultural activities within these regions where such opportunities were previously limited.
For the emerging artists from Évora and Santarém districts, the project delivered important professional benefits including enhanced visibility, networking opportunities and space for artistic experimentation. The participating artists developed new works within the participatory arts field and gained recognition through the project''s public presentations in multiple locations. The specialised training programme, particularly the three artistic laboratories, provided these artists with valuable skills development in participatory arts methodologies that could inform their future practice.
The project also yielded benefits for local cultural agents through its training course, equipping them with new approaches to community engagement through arts. The bilateral partnerships with Icelandic and Norwegian organisations brought additional expertise to these training components while raising the international profile of the participating Portuguese artists and organisations. The Academy of the Senses contributed artistic mentorship, while OsloMet provided important evaluation perspectives that strengthened the project''s methodological framework.
Tangible outputs including the five artistic creations, a publication and video documentary extended the project''s reach beyond its immediate participants. These materials documented the creative processes and outcomes, serving as resources for future initiatives. The public presentations in Évora, Sardoal and Lisbon, along with the concluding conference, helped raise awareness about participatory arts practices among wider audiences.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnerships with Iceland''s Academy of the Senses and Norway''s OsloMet significantly enhanced the Dentes de Leão project''s outcomes. The Academy of the Senses played a crucial role in artistic development, providing mentorship to Portuguese artists and facilitating the participation of an Icelandic artist, which enriched the project''s creative dimension with international perspectives. OsloMet contributed methodological expertise in monitoring and evaluation, strengthening the project''s analytical framework and final publication. These collaborations brought credibility and visibility to the initiative, particularly valuable for cultural work in Portugal''s peripheral regions where validation is often lacking.At a bilateral level, the partnerships promoted knowledge exchange, with Norwegian input improving evaluation processes and Icelandic involvement enhancing artistic training approaches. The international dimension also expanded networking opportunities for Portuguese participants and increased the project''s profile. While the partnerships were productive, their continuation faced challenges due to the project''s sustainability limitations. However, some collaboration persisted post-project between the Academy of the Senses and the Portuguese promoter organisation Pó de Vir a Ser, demonstrating the partnership''s residual value despite no formal ongoing agreements being in place.