How can we study and preserve ephemeral cultural manifestations, such as an experimental theatre piece, a performance or the new Portuguese dance? This is the challenge that the project RESONANCE — Epistemologies for the Documentation of Affect and Becoming in Cultural Manifestations in Performance (1969-1979), coordinated by Hélia Marçal, will embrace.
The aim of RESONANCE is to analyse this type of cultural manifestations, those based on performance, in the period around the Portuguese 1974 Carnation Revolution (1969-1979), in order to interrogate the politics of memory across temporal and affective landscapes, as well as to challenge the apparent epistemological dichotomy between performance-based art and the performing arts. The challenge is great since, more often than not, these actions remained undocumented, as some artists directly opposed forms of inscriptional memory, while others documented their works sparingly. However, the historical relevance of these works is great, as they were created during a period of socio-political change and global experimentation in the fields of visual and performing arts and are characterised by a deep engagement with politics within circles of artistic practice. The temporal specificity of these forms of artistic practice is fundamental to understanding performance-based art and the urgent history of these works is yet to be done, partly due to issues with epistemologies and methodologies.
In addition to Hélia Marçal, the project will include Ana Bigotte Vieira (also from the IHC), Afonso Dias Ramos (IHA), Filipa Magalhães (CESEM), Ana Pais (ICNOVA), Vasco Baptista Marques (IFILNOVA), and Joana Lia Ferreira (CIUHCT – NOVA FCT). The National Museum of Theatre and Dance and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will be partners in the project.
This was one of only six projects in the arts to receive funding from FCT under the Call for SR&TD Projects in All Scientific Domains launched at the end of 2023, and one of only three with ERDF funding in this disciplinary area. Benefits are expected for the creative industries, artists, academic and non-academic audiences.
Other news
-
Under the theme ‘The Public History of Difficult Pasts’ -
"Ceci n’est Pas Francisco" is at MNAC and will extend to CCCV -
The Inscription I of the Church of Machico will serve as the theme for a series of cultural events -
He is one of the curators of the exhibition "Olhares Críticos no Arquivo Colonial – Sombras e Memórias" -
He will take part in the event ‘Desconstruir o Colonialismo: Entre Tradição e Revolução’ -
‘It is very important to keep the history of democracy in Portugal very much in the public consciousness’ -
The exhibition Eye(s) Open opened at the Eye Filmuseum -
Members of the FILMASPORA project team were in Praia for the Project’s First Workshop on Radical Creative Writing -
The Laboratoire des Études Romanes at Paris 8 University hosts the IHC researcher -
Between 2 and 31 March, at the Portuguese Cinematheque -
She is now a Visiting Researcher at CAST, University of Bologna -
Following elections held on 15 December 2025, the new governing bodies took office for the 2026-2028 term -
Applications are open until 16 February -
Will take office as a Full Member -
The city took up the challenge launched by the IHC last year
