On July 4 and 5, 2025, the 1st Art and Education Conference took place at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon. The event was organized by Arte Central, in partnership with the university, and received institutional recognition from InSEA – International Society for Education Through Art, an official partner of UNESCO.

The opening session featured the presence of António Teodoro, director of CeiED, who emphasized the importance of the arts in building a critical, democratic, and humanist school, highlighting the role of arts education in the holistic development of citizens.

The conference brought together in-service and trainee teachers and educators, teacher trainers, researchers in arts education, and cultural professionals, creating a space for meeting, sharing, and reflection on visual arts education and its role in schools and society.

Throughout the two days, the program included lectures, workshops, debates, poster presentations, and visits to museums and galleries, fostering dialogue between theory and practice and promoting diverse pedagogies in arts education.

The 1st Art and Education Conference proved to be a meaningful contribution toward strengthening the recognition of the arts as an essential part of a vibrant, inclusive, and open-minded school, establishing vital connections between education, research, and cultural spaces.