The call for panel proposals is now open for the International Conference “Peripheral Connections: Youth Creativity and Public Policy”, which will take place on June 25–26, 2026, at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon and Ponto Kultural (Mem Martins), Portugal.

The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary debate on the intersections between youth creativity, urban cultures, and public policy, with particular attention to the experiences and cultural practices of young people living in urban peripheries. It seeks to bring together researchers, artists, cultural practitioners, policymakers, and civil society actors to explore how artistic practices and creative expression can contribute to new forms of citizenship, participation, and representation of marginalized territories.

Scholars and practitioners are invited to submit panel proposals addressing topics related to three main thematic areas:

Youth creativity: arts, urban cultures, participation, and political agency;
Public policy: urban, educational, and youth policies;
Urban peripheries: socio-spatial segregation, territorial stigma, and marginalization.

Each panel should include four to five presentations and be coordinated by one or two conveners responsible for organizing and moderating the session during the conference.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
April 2, 2026
Email: pericreativities@gmail.com 

The conference is organized within the framework of the research project “Peripheral Creativities: Youth, Art and Public Policy in Segregated Territories (PERICREATIVITY)”, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and involves several academic and cultural institutions, including Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, the University of Porto, the Nova University of Lisbon, and Ponto Kultural.

Further information about submission guidelines and conference details is available in the official Call for Panel Proposals.