The European Day of Languages 2021

“The enthusiasm and commitment around Creativity Week were amazing. We all had the pleasure of exploring how the human contribution is, and will continue to be, the original, without denying any technological progress.” These are the words of Francisco Mendes-Palma, T4EU Global Engagement Director, one of the organisers of the event which took place at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Braga from 12 to 16 October.

Over the course of five days marked by academic discussion and cultural and musical expression, figures such as Manuela Veloso, Dustin Stokes, Pierre Cassou-Noguès and Carlos Fiolhais took to the Aula Magna on the Braga Campus, as well as the stages at the Muzeu and the dst Group.

“Five days, many voices, perspectives and insights. What I take home: creativity is less something we possess than something we build together”, summarises speaker Katja Tschimmel, founder of Mindshake and lecturer at the University of Porto.

During Creativity Week, 193 participants from 23 different nationalities, representing 28 universities across two continents and more than 23 fields of study, took part in the joint initiative organised by the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and the Transform4Europe alliance.

With 42 activities, including workshops, round-table discussions and cultural visits, “Creativity Week provided an opportunity to explore the theme of creativity from a variety of perspectives. The theme of creativity was explored from a conceptual and philosophical perspective, but it was also possible to discuss the relevance of creativity in fields such as AI, science, industry, geopolitics, theology, spirituality and the arts. It was truly inspiring,” adds Fr Bruno Nobre, Director of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, organiser and driving force behind the event.

Equally memorable for the participants, Frederico Elias – a visual artist, lecturer at the University of Lisbon and IADE, and a participant in Creativity Week – emphasises: “Creativity thrives on the freedom to experiment and make mistakes. Fear of failure and preconceived ideas are among its greatest barriers.”  

Among the week’s highlights was the Science Café entitled ‘What Is the Power of Creativity?’, which brought together the academic and artistic worlds, featuring Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Universidade Católica, Sergia Adamo, a lecturer at the University of Trieste, and the Portuguese musician Pedro Abrunhosa.