Post-Colonialism and Portuguese Cultural Institutions: The Case of the Gulbenkian Próximo Futuro Programme and the Africa.Cont Project

Abstract

This essay aims to analyse how the post-colonial paradigm has been incorporated in some cultural institutions (museums and art centres) in Portugal. Since it is a paradigm that has been widely discussed in various disciplinary areas, we will seek to analyze how some Portuguese institutions have positioned themselves (deliberately or not) towards the main ideas that inform the postcolonial paradigm and how these ideas are manifested in the practices of these institutions. Two projects will be analyzed in detail: the Next Future Program of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Africa.cont Cultural Center project. These two projects were chosen because they are considered to be the projects that have more directly addressed the postcolonial theme in Portugal and its key issues. The essay begins with a brief exposition on the theme in question, seeking to present how the debate on postcolonialism is conceived and has marked presence in the international sphere. At the same time, it seeks to reflect on how this debate has been received in Portugal, both in the academic sphere and in terms of cultural institutions. Next, two case studies are presented: the Gulbenkian Próximo Futuro programme and the Africa.cont project, in order to reflect on the existence of a post-colonial agenda in these programmes.