On 22 October 2025, Palácio Anjos in Algés hosted a unique school-session presentation of DIS-PLACE, an experiment in progress, bringing students from the TDGO 23 class into the heart of a living, evolving artwork. The performance is developed by the Serbian collective Studio 6 within the framework of PRODUCTION³, a Creative Europe project coordinated by the Valley of Arts Festival with partners Artemrede (Portugal), ArtLink (Serbia), and HÉTFA Research Institute (Hungary).
PRODUCTION³ aims to rethink how audiences relate to art by strengthening connections between creators, cultural event hosts, and the public. Through innovative co-creation models and audience-centric performances, the project explores how participation can transform both the artistic process and the audience experience.
dis-place exemplifies this ambition. The interdisciplinary performance dissolves boundaries between artistic roles and genres: two musicians, a writer-dramaturg, and a light designer step beyond their individual fields to explore each other’s practices. Rather than simply observing, the audience is invited to experience sound, movement, and space as tools for expression and storytelling, shaping their own interpretation as the performance unfolds.
For the TDGO 23 students, this encounter became much more than a curricular activity. Guided by their teachers, they explored the performance space, interacted with instruments and materials, and experienced the artistic process up close. Their reflections highlight how direct engagement can reshape the relationship between young audiences and contemporary art:
“It was like stepping into a dream where body and sound speak a new language.” – Maria
“I realised that art is not meant to be understood – it’s meant to be felt.” – Tomás
“Exploring the instruments was amazing – it felt like we were creating art too.” – Lara
These perspectives underline the transformative potential of participatory art: art is no longer distant – it becomes something personal, accessible, and alive.
As the research partner of the consortium, HÉTFA continues to support all project activities by evaluating audience perspectives, gathering insights that can benefit the wider cultural ecosystem. Events like dis-place contribute valuable knowledge about how artistic practices can evolve to foster empathy, connection, and shared creativity among diverse audience groups.
PRODUCTION³ continues in 2025 with the publication of research findings, reinforcing the common goal: to bring artists, organisers, and audiences closer together in meaningful and innovative ways.
Photo: Krisztina Forró – Hétfa Research Institute