Based on the pilot project Seed Ilind, this FCT project intends to amplify the questions it launched and introduce an applied component. In the context of the progressive introduction of contemporary art into the field of museology as a means to reconsider (im)material culture heritage, it is surprising how little analysis has been devoted to the theoretical contribution that from all contemporary art forms, especially conceptual art has made to the discipline.

This research project does not aim to fill this gap by drawing a history of cases in which contemporary art and anthropology have met inside the museum since the beginning of the twentieth century and the repercussions of these encounters, which involve complex delimitations and contaminations. Relating theory from distinct scientific domains, CARIM intends to demonstrate that specifically conceptual art (from all other contemporary art forms) had a revolutionary role to play in the recent understanding of heritage, with the objective of drawing solutions and methods with immediate applicability for heritage institutions in the Portuguese context today. Blending theory from heritage studies, anthropology, conceptual and visual arts, decolonial studies with analysis of specific artworks from different decades, CARIM aims to follow how conceptual, performative, multi-disciplinary artistic practices and display strategies radically contribute to the elaboration of critical, processual, performative and inclusive forms of heritage transmission, which contribute to de-colonial museologic critique.

Activities

• Systemtizing and theretically analysing essential examples from conceptual art
• Drawing from these recent and historic cases innovatory methods and solutions of communication and display that can be adapted to heritage institutions in
• Portugal with the objective to contribute to a more critical, de-colonial, renovated and inclusive heritage transmission.
• CARIM will involve its partner institutions in the implementation of some events, actions, practices and interventions in material culture museums in Portugal, testing out some of these proposals. Based on observation in Portuguese museums and collaboration with social and cultural actors, CARIM will develop an applied manual and a tool kit to be proposed to museums in Portugal with concrete solutions towards a creative and critical rethinking of these institutions.
• MANUAL: Repertoire of solutions/ devices of contextual, inclusive, socially aware display of material and immaterial heritage in permanent and temporary exhibitions in museums.
• TOOLKIT: Repertoire of activities for the educative programs for adults and children in museums.

Research Team

• Marta Maria Jecu (ULUSÓFONA)
• Mário Moutinho (ULUSÓFONA)
• Judite Primo (ULUSÓFONA)
• Cristiana Santiago Tejo (Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – Instituto de História da Arte)
• José Manuel de Figueiredo Gomes Pinto (ULUSÓFONA)
• Marcelo Lages Murta (ULUSÓFONA)
• Margarida Brito Alves (Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – Instituto de História da Arte)
• Margarida Belchior (ULUSÓFONA), 
• Henrique Godoy
• Arantxa Ciafrino

Partners

Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – Instituto de História da Arte