THINKING GLOBALLY – ACTING LOCALLY

THINKING GLOBALLY - ACTING LOCALLY

Think Globally, Act Locally is a one-week artistic and environmental awareness cycle taking place from 24 to 28 September, designed to engage local communities—especially young people—in creative, participatory, and transformative cultural practices related to climate change, sustainability, and biodiversity. The project responds directly to the objectives of the Creative Europe call by promoting co-creation, youth participation, public engagement, and the use of culture as a catalyst for social and ecological awareness.

The programe includes seven core actions:

  • Daily Workshops (1 per day) 12h00/13h30
    Held at the local cultural centre. These sessions target both youth and intergenerational participants, fostering dialogue and hands-on learning.

 

  • Flash Mobs (2) Thursday and Friday 15h15 Escola Básica Nuno Gonçalves
    The performances and students create striking, site-specific actions to draw attention to global warming and its effects. These artistic actions are designed to provoke reflection and interaction with unsuspecting passersby, generating discussion in the community.

 

  • Daily Concerts (1 per day) - 19h00
    Each evening, the cultural centre will host a concert showcasing emerging musicians, under-25 artists known for blending jazz and experimental music. The musicians are students from the renowned Hot Clube — one of the oldest and most respected jazz schools in Europe — bringing fresh perspectives, creativity, and energy to the stage. These performances aim to engage youth audiences and create space for informal post-concert dialogue.

 

  • Expert Talks (Weekend: Sat & Sun, 17:00)
    A series of debates will be hosted with leading experts. These sessions provide scientific grounding for the artistic interventions and promote informed civic engagement.

 

  • Theatre play for Children (Weekend: Sun, 11:00)
    A Maior Flor do Mundo de José Saramago is a poetic theatre piece for young audiences.

 

  • Movies for children - Sat 11:00 - Monstrinha II

 

  • Permanent Art Exhibition (Wed–Sun)
    Corallium Corallium is an installation developed by 16-year-old students from class 11ºK at the Art School António Arroio, mentored by professors Hugo F. Matos, Luís Santos, and Sérgio Reis. The pieces reflect marine life threatened by pollution and climate change. The exhibition will be open throughout the week at the cultural centre and serves as a platform for youth expression in visual arts.

    The Miradouro de Palavras installation – a space of visual readings created at the Agrupamento de Escolas Nuno Gonçalves – brings together literature, art, and silence. Here, the courage of newcomers meets the depth of those who have always belonged. Belonging and Inclusion are not just words, but actions – the foundations of our community.

    Animais em Extinção – an exhibition of drawings by 3rd-year students from Escola básica Natália Correia, who are also taking part in the FlashMob “Save the Planet”.

 

  • Botanical Walks (Weekend: Sat & Sun, - 14h30 16h30 - Saturday and Sunday)
    Led by biologist and author Ivo Meco, these guided botanical walks invite participants to discover the diversity of plant species growing in the parish of Penha de França. The activity blends scientific knowledge, environmental education, and cultural storytelling, highlighting the ecological and historical importance of local flora. Open to all ages, these walks aim to deepen community connection with urban green spaces and foster long-term environmental stewardship.

 

  • Youth Co-Creation & Community Involvement
    Young people are involved at all levels of the project: as performers, musicians, visual artists, and workshop facilitators. The flash mobs are created and performed by children and youth aged 6–27; the art exhibition is entirely designed by school students; and young musicians actively participate in designing the daily concerts. This ensures that the creative process is both intergenerational and youth-led, giving young creators space to shape public discourse on sustainability.The events are open to all and take place in accessible public spaces: community gardens, local streets, and the central cultural centre. The project builds on existing local networks and schools to engage audiences, especially those under 30, and works with neighborhood associations to promote inclusion. The overall format—a mix of performance, education, and activism—is designed to bridge art and ecology and to leave a lasting impact on the community’s awareness and engagement with global environmental challenges.