Cultural change in contemporary Portugal

Abstract

How does change occur in the art world, which specific elements it presents there? How do changes in social context impact the characteristics and evolution of the art world? What are the main drivers at stake, how are they perceived by artists and cultural institutions? How do public policies respond to these drivers, or anticipate them, or even generate them? We try to approach these issues from the point of view of the social sciences, fostering a productive dialogue between sociology and other disciplines, such as economics, political science, history, and anthropology. The purpose is to discuss broader issues with regard to cultural change in contemporary societies, taking the Portuguese situation as a relevant example that deserves thorough, comprehensive, holistic, and data-based investigation. In Portugal, the consequences of democratisation and European integration were huge, at all levels. Change came late but was intense, implying a radical reconfiguration of the country's geopolitical, institutional, economic, and cultural positioning. This is why it constitutes a pertinent case for European and international research on social change and the cultural dynamics.