Fondazione Santagata in Lisbon for the ENCC Annual Conference “Culture Converge 2026”

18 May 2026 – Fondazione Santagata participates in Culture Converge 2026, the annual conference of the European Network of Cultural Centres, taking place in Lisbon from 20 to 22 May 2026 at Carpintarias de São Lázaro.

This year’s edition focuses on the role of socio-cultural centres as spaces that sustain democratic participation, freedom of expression, and social cohesion. Through panels and workshops, the programme addresses challenges such as rebuilding trust within fragmented communities, responding to social polarisation, and rethinking digital public spaces, including the impact of artificial intelligence through the lenses of ethics and inclusion.

The conference also explores broader themes including cultural democracy in the context of climate migration and institutional resilience in times of crisis.

Fondazione Santagata’s presence at the conference contributes to an ongoing international dialogue with cultural professionals, researchers, artists, and policy makers from across Europe, fostering exchanges and shared reflections on the role of culture within contemporary social transformations.

Within this context, the event creates space for new connections, collaborative perspectives, and long-term cultural cooperation oriented toward social innovation and inclusive change.