Terra Batida is a mutant platform that seeks to mobilize knowledge and know-how around ecological violence in different territorial contexts, coordinated by Rita Natálio. This year, in an already regular collaboration with Alkantara Festival, the proposal is to offer an educational and nurturing encounter around forests, bringing together artists and scientists from Brazil and Portugal with significant work that follow deforestation and monoculture processes, but also regeneration strategies. If in Portugal, “ruined landscapes” (Tsing) are the result of intensive eucalyptus cultivation, rural exodus, and mega-fires such as those of Pedrogão Grande, in Brazil, territories marked by the forced removal of indigenous populations and by agribusiness, contrast with a pulsating megadiversity, which continues to highlight the political and social power of living and working in a “standing forest”. Within the tone of a meeting and study circle, Refloresta takes place with a free school for a group of participants, with artistic processes as the basis of the meeting and collective discussion. At the end of each day, there is a programme of public presentations, open to the general public. There will also be an online training with Geni Núñez, indigenous activist and psychologist who has inspired thought-provoking reflections on the relationship between reforestation and non-monogamy, and who will guide the event Reflorestamentos afetivos: pistas para descolonização.
Free Reforest School welcomes: the architect Paulo Tavares, who intervenes in different South American forest contexts with initiatives that interrogate the fields of “visual natures” and non-human rights; Helen Torres and Zoy Anastassakis, whose approach makes use of tools including speculative fiction, reading and writing practices, and theories of multispecies anthropology; Paulo Pimenta e Castro, co-author of the book Portugal on Fire – How to Rescue the Forests (2018); and the project À Escuta, an initiative developed in the Serra da Estrela National Park and its surroundings by Joana Sá, Luís J Martins, Corinna Lawrenz and Nik Völker. There will also be an online training workshop by Geni Núñez, an indigenous activist and psychologist whose work inspires thought-provoking reflections on the relations between reforestation and non-monogamy, and who will lead us on the path of Emotional reforestations: routes to decolonisation.
This programme is an initial introduction, from a multidisciplinary perspective, to research and knowledge sharing on the topic of Portuguese forests and their conflicts. It acts as preparation for a broader residency by the Earthways network, to be held in the Centro region in 2023, in partnership with Fundão Council.
PROGRAMME
Affective reforestations & Forest House
18 November
Friday
Workshop
‘Affective reforestations: routes to decolonisation’ by Geni Núñez
Online, 3PM to 5PM
Participation Form HERE
Conference
‘à escuta: ForestHouse’, with the colective à escuta and ‘The collapse of the economic model associated with eucaliptus’, Paulo Pimenta de Castro. Moderation – Rita Natálio – tickets here
Sala Mário Viegas, 6PM to 7:30PM
Reforest
19 November
Saturday
Workshop
‘Space is law, architecture is advocacy’ by Paulo Tavares
Sala Bernardo Sassetti, 3PM to 5:45PM
Conference
‘Reparation’ by Paulo Tavares, moderated by Rita Natálio – tickets here
Sala Mário Viegas, 6PM to 7:30PM
The Fire and The Forest
20 November
Sunday
Workshop
‘The Fire and the Forest: diffraction experiments, fabulation and speculation’ by Helen Torres & Zoy Anastassakis
Sala Bernardo Sassetti, 3PM to 6PM
Conference
‘What do the burning forests tell us? Stories of ruins and resurgences in friction’ by Helen Torres & Zoy Anastassakis, moderated by Rita Natálio – tickets here
Sala Mário Viegas, 7PM to 8:30PM
FAQs
What is Free Reforest School?
Free Reforest School is a 3-day programme organized by Earthways.
It is composed of 3 afternoon workshops followed by 3 public conferences open to all audiences, free of entrance.
The activities of the programme take place in the afternoon of November 18, 19 and 20.
Does the Free Reforest School take place in English?
Unfortunately the Free Reforest School is in Portuguese and no subtitles or translation will be provided.
What does the school involve?
The school is aimed at research and knowledge sharing regarding forests and their conflicts, in Portugal and Brazil, from a multidisciplinary perspective. Tools will be shared, artistic practices will be activated, ongoing projects will be presented and debates will be held.
How do I take part?
To take part of the workshops, registration must be done in advance, by filling a participation form. The form can be accessed here.
We ask that to register you are able to take part in the 3 afternoon workshops on 18, 19 and 20 November and at least one conference. Preference will be given to who can participate in all workshops days and conferences.
Can I only attend the conferences?
Yes to attend the confereces you’ll have to book your free ticket on the day prior to the conference or collect it at São Luiz Municipal Theatre ticket office in the day of the event.
How much do tickets for the Free Reforest School cost?
All activities of the School are free of charge.
To participate do I need to have any specific knowledge?
No. This is a proposition for all people.
