ENCATC Congress 2025

As the world looks beyond 2030, the urgency to align culture with sustainable development has never been greater. Under the theme The Future Is Cultural: Policy, Practice, and Education, ENCATC Congress 2025 will explore how cultural policy, practice, and education can form the foundations of regenerative futures. It invites reflection on the strategic role of culture not only as the backbone of well-being for individuals, communities, and organisations, but also as the backbone of society itself. In a time of global transformation, how might a deeper integration of cultural values and systems serve as a guiding framework for more inclusive, resilient, and equitable development?

This unique gathering brings together scholars, cultural professionals, educators, and policymakers to examine how culture acts not only as a driver of well-being but as a structural condition for inclusive, resilient, and just societies.

With a strong focus on the power of education, the Congress emphasises the vital role of cultural educators in shaping civic imagination, fostering critical reflection, and promoting systemic thinking. ENCATC advocates for transformative learning—education that integrates heart, mind, and action—to empower the next generation of cultural actors as agents of societal change.

Organised in partnership with the Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, and the Espronceda Institute of Arts and Culture, the Congress will feature scholarly panels, policy dialogues, workshops, and vibrant project showcases.

This is more than an academic event—it is a living lab for rethinking cultural management and policy in times of uncertainty. Join us in Barcelona to connect, co-create, and lead the way toward a future where culture is not peripheral—but central—to sustainable development.

The future is cultural. Be part of shaping it.

The ENCATC Congress 2025 will feature keynote lectures, panel discussions, academic paper presentations, project showcases, workshops, and networking events. Each format is designed to stimulate cross-sectoral dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants will engage in thought-provoking exchanges that connect theory and practice in the field of cultural management and policy education.

As in previous editions, the 2025 ENCATC Congress will feature the presentation of two prestigious awards: the ENCATC Award for Outstanding Contribution, which honours transformational leadership in cultural institutions and ground-breaking initiatives in cultural management and policy research; and the ENCATC Research Award on Cultural Policy and Cultural Management, which recognizes exceptional doctoral research that advances knowledge in cultural policy, management, and education. The Congress will provide a distinctive forum for building international connections among educators and researchers, while facilitating critical dialogue on addressing contemporary educational challenges through innovative and future-oriented strategies.

The Congress will provide a platform for advancing ENCATC’s contributions to the MONDIACULT dialogue. From May to July, the six ENCATC Working Groups will convene online, and in September, will hold in-person sessions during the Congress to finalize recommendations. Additionally, the ENCATC Think Tank Focus Groups will have their in-person annual meeting during the Congress. 

The Congress offers an unparalleled opportunity for professionals, researchers, educators, students, and policymakers to engage with cutting-edge ideas and innovative practices at the intersection of culture, management, policy, and education. Attendees will gain valuable insights, build meaningful collaborations, and contribute to shaping the future of cultural policy and management education and leadership.

Designed to balance academic rigor with practical relevance, the curated programme fosters intellectual exchange and professional development through structured sessions and open dialogue. With its global reach, the Congress fosters a unique ecosystem that bridges disciplines, sectors, and geographies – connecting established experts with emerging voices.

Whether you are leading a university programme, developing cultural policy, managing an arts organisation, training professionals or conducting research, this is your opportunity to join a vibrant international community committed to enhancing practice and shaping culture’s evolving role in society.