Training for the Contact Zone Conference Conference will be held in Bucharest on DECEMBER 2-3, 2025.
“Contact Zones in Practice” A Training Model for Cultural Democracy, Dialogue, and Structural Change
Purpose of the conference
Across Europe, societies are facing major challenges: increasing political polarisation, shrinking civic and cultural spaces, and growing distrust in democratic processes. In this context, cultural and heritage work—carried out by institutions, educators, artists, cultural practitioners, and policymakers—plays a vital role in shaping shared and liveable realities.
“Contact Zones in Practice” – A Training Model for Cultural Democracy, Dialogue, and Structural Change will explore the following key question: How can we create spaces that foster reflection, dialogue, and collective agency, even in the face of conflicting perspectives or contested histories?
The conference introduces the Contact Zone as a framework for navigating these complexities. A Contact Zone is any physical, social, or symbolic space where people with different experiences, identities, and worldviews come together. Such encounters can be difficult, but they open the door to mutual understanding, shared agency, and collective sense-making/ meaning-making.
The Training for the Contact Zone project brings together partners from seven different European countries and different institutional profiles to create a practical curriculum that equips cultural practitioners with tools for dialogue and mediation in complex situations. The proposed methods promote inclusive participation and encourage communities and institutions to engage with differences in meaningful ways.
What to Expect During the conference participants will:
Reflect on the rise of polarisation and anti-democratic shifts across Europe and their relationship with culture and heritage.
Explore the TCZ curriculum as a tested framework for inclusive and participatory practices.
Discuss how TCZ tools can strengthen cultural democracy, civic engagement in local realities and intercultural exchange.
Consider how methodologies developed in the TCZ can inform cultural policies and contribute to structural changes.
Price: Free