Applications Open for the Course “Unlearning – Cultural Mediation Practices” in Porto

Applications are now open for the course “Unlearning – Cultural Mediation Practices”, an in-person training program dedicated to developing strategies for creating and mediating cultural spaces and projects that are fairer, more representative, and more accessible. This free training is aimed especially at professionals and students working in cultural, social, and educational fields. The course will have a total duration of 32 hours, with 2 hours online and 30 hours in person, and will take place in Porto.

Promoted by PELE Portugal, this initiative is part of the European project Training Contact Zone, implemented in seven countries throughout 2025 and 2026. The course focuses on the concept of the Contact Zone, understood as a cultural and social space where different perspectives, experiences, and narratives can coexist and engage in dialogue. In today’s context, Contact Zones are especially relevant as they challenge dominant narratives, amplify voices that are usually silenced or marginalized, encourage multivocality, foster empathy and understanding among diverse groups, stimulate processes of repair and reinterpretation of collective memory, and activate dialogue, creative experimentation, and participation within underrepresented communities and groups.

The training is organized into six thematic modules, covering topics from an introduction to Contact Zones and their contexts and practices, through tensions and opportunities in tangible and intangible cultural heritage, cultural participation and democracy, tools for cultural mediation, collective memory narratives, representation and reinterpretation, and creative practices for reflection and evaluation.

The application period runs from January 14 to February 14, and interested candidates can apply by filling out this form.

Applications will be evaluated based on the motivation letter and CV, with attention given to diversity in age, gender, ethnic background, socio-economic context, and physical or functional condition. The admission and selection process will be managed by the PELE team, and within this call, no requests for reconsideration of decisions are foreseen, nor will individual comments or scores from the evaluation process be disclosed.

The certification of the course is currently pending confirmation.