Coimbra hosts satellite event of the New European Bauhaus Festival

The 2nd edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival will take place in Coimbra as a satellite event on the 13th of April, at Itecons. The event will celebrate the journey of this creative and interdisciplinary initiative since its launch in September 2021 by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Similar to the 2022 edition, where several entities and collectives gathered in Adelino Veiga Street for a day of activities called "Rua Zero", this year's New European Bauhaus Festival will again take place in Coimbra. This time, the organising committee brings together four official partner organisations of the New European Bauhaus - CIM-RC, Itecons, Jazz ao Centro Clube and the University of Coimbra - as well as the cultural association Há Baixa.

Over the past two and a half years, the New European Bauhaus movement has added a cultural and creative dimension to the European Green Deal, combining the values of aesthetics, sustainability and inclusion in concrete, local experiences. With buildings, public spaces, businesses and social practices, cultural activities and educational programmes, all acting as beacons for the initiative and inspiring new ideas, the New European Bauhaus is growing on fertile ground.

Following the initial call by the President of the European Commission in 2020 for broad participation in envisioning and building a sustainable, inclusive and inspiring future, the New European Bauhaus has provided fertile contexts for people from different backgrounds and sectors to work together to transform European society.

In this edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival satellite event, entitled 'Convergences', Itecons will host architects, artists, designers, engineers, social and solidarity economy professionals and citizens from different backgrounds. They will share their perspectives on the profound changes needed for positive regeneration towards a more harmonious relationship with nature. The event aims to promote accessible aesthetic experiences and combat structural injustices.

The initiative's centerpiece will be a round table discussion with over 10 different organisations, collectives and citizens who have designed projects supported or recognised by the New European Bauhaus. The panel will be chaired by Tânia Covas, the current Secretary of the General Council of the University of Coimbra, whose mission will be to identify points of convergence between participants from different fields and to explore the value of the multidisciplinarity that underpins the New European Bauhaus (NEB).

Those interested in attending must register on the Itecons website. Admission is free but limited.