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On June 19, the city of Évora hosted a highly successful reflection on the transforming impact of culture on society. Under the theme “Arts and culture to shape public space and collective education,” the public session combined a film screening with intellectual debate, bringing together renowned experts from the artistic, theatrical, and academic fields.
It was promoted within the framework of the Cultural Bridge project- BRIDGES (PLANAPP-FCT, S4P25-LT24), based at CIDEHUS at the University of Évora, that has already organised similar sessions, bringing together experts from the arts and academy.
The session kicked off with the presentation of the documentary “The Heritages of Sociability II — Leisure Spaces in Évora” (DOI: https://doi.org/10.60469/RXC6-KJ40) directed by researcher María Zozaya-Montes and produced by CIDEHUS as part of the “Memory of Time” cycle.
The initiative championed the premise that arts, forms of sociability, and heritage are fundamental pillars for community development and the advancement of civic participation.
The starting point was the in-person premiere of the documentary “The Heritages of Sociability II — Leisure Spaces in Évora,” directed by researcher María Zozaya-Montes and produced by CIDEHUS-UÉ. The film, which is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3De8uzh90w&t=10s), explores spaces inaugurated in the 19th century—such as gardens, theaters, sculptures, and gathering zones—which today constitute a valuable cultural heritage.
By reclaiming the memory of these places, the debate analyzed their continuity up to the present day. The session highlighted how access to spaces of deliberation and exchange of ideas—such as cafés and associations—and to cultural hubs, including theaters (formal, informal, amateur, or professional), have shaped and continue to shape society. Similarly, meeting areas in public spaces, such as the Public Garden (Jardim Público) and the bandstand (coreto), fostered the critical capacity of citizens and their participation as active audiences. These ecosystems promote reflection within the public sphere and reinforce a sense of belonging to a participatory system. In this way, they serve as essential collective education tools for building more just, egalitarian, and democratic societies.
Photo: Filipa Coelho.
Expert Gathering, Local Partnerships, and Community Engagement
The debate brought together both theoretical and practical insights from prominent local figures in culture and academia. José Russo, Artistic Director of CENDREV and actor, provided a crucial bridging role by opening the theater’s doors to facilitate the filming process. He was joined by Christine Zurbach, Full Professor Emérita at the University of Évora’s School of Arts (EA-UÉ), who contributed her extensive expertise on historical puppetry and cultural leisure. Tiago Navarro, Director of the EA-UÉ, drew on his research regarding the role of typographers in shaping Évora’s historical public sphere to advocate for the arts as an active force in urban development. The panel was chaired by María Zozaya-Montes (CIDEHUS-UÉ), principal investigator of the BRIDGES project, who drew on her background as the documentary’s director and a specialist in spaces of sociability to guide the discussion.
Held in partnership with the historic Sociedade União Eborense – Bota Rasa (1839) and supported by its president, Filipe Rebelo, the session featured a highly active audience. Key contributions included Takis Sarantopoulos on the film’s action-research methodology; José Rodrigues dos Santos on the 19th-century mise-en-scène of social classes; and Alexandra Charúa on the role of typographers in clandestinely stimulating the public sphere. The event also saw strong engagement from BRIDGES project collaborators—such as Filipa Coelho (research contract and technical secretariat in this encounter), Carina Lopes, and Déborah Pimenta—whose involvement fosters student participation and ensures the future continuity of these initiatives with the community.
Guest Panelists for the Debate:
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Tiago Navarro | Director of the School of Arts at the University of Évora (EA-UÉ)
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Christine Zurbach | Professor Emerita at the School of Arts at the Univ. of Évora.
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José Russo | Artistic Director of CENDREV (Centro Dramático de Évora, Theater García de Resende)
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María Zozaya-Montes | CIDEHUS-UÉ | BRIDGES (as moderator, facilitator, and director of the documentary)
Free Admission
June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Bota Rasa: Praça do Giraldo 88 (Évora)
Coordination: BRIDGES Project (IP. MAría Zozaya-Montes).
Partnership: Bota Rasa (other partners see poster)
Session held thanks to the collaboration with the Sociedade União Eborense – Bota Rasa (with special thanks to its president, Filipe Rebelo).
See the photos on the BRIDGES Gallery (here)
REFERENCES:
-See María Zozaya-Montes’ research in this field, see publications available for free online in repositories such as Dspace, Dialnet, o Academia.edu , for example.
-See the rationale of the session: Maria Zozaya-Montes (June 17, 2026). Debate “As artes e a cultura para configurar o espaço público e a educação” e estreia do documentário “Os patrimónios da sociabilidade, os espaços de lazer em Évora” «BRIDGES». Ponte Cultural. Retrieved June 18, 2026, from https://bridges.hypotheses.org/9107
The BRIDGES project is hosted by CIDEHUS at the University of Évora, under the coordination of Principal Investigator María Zozaya-Montes. It is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) through the "Science for Policy" (S4P25) call, a joint initiative by PLANAPP and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [Project Ref: S4P25-LT24: BRIDGES]. Work "developed under the Science4Policy 2025, an anual Science for Policy Project call, an initiative promoted by Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology, financed by Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan".
