On 25-26 May 2026, The Lisbon Consortium hosts the Art and Diplomacy seminar by Randi Charno Levine, the former US Ambassador to Portugal and Honorary Professor in Art and Diplomacy at UCP. The series of lectures over the past two years will now continue with the welcoming of renowned artists, curators and leaders to UCP for panel discussions.
The first panel, “Institutional Decision-Making: Ethics, Risk, and Public Impact” features Adam Weinberg, Emeritus Director of Whitney Museum of American Art; Philippe Vergne, Director of Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, and artist Hank Willis Thomas. The conversation focuses on how museums and cultural institutions make high-stakes decisions involving ethics, funding, governance, public trust, and social responsibility.
The second panel “Curatorial Power: Selection, Visibility, and Narrative” features curator Rujeko Hockley and artists Alfredo Jaar and Aliza Nisenbaum. It examines curatorial decisions by discussing what is collected, exhibited, framed or omitted and how these decisions actively construct cultural meaning and historical narratives.
25 May 18:30-20:00, UCP (CLSBE, 511)
Institutional Decision-Making: Ethics, Risk, and Public Impact
Adam Weinberg (Emeritus Director, Whitney Museum of American Art)
Hank Willis Thomas (Artist)
Philippe Vergne (Director, Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art)
Chair: Amb. Randi Charno Levine
26 May 15:30-17:00, UCP (CLSBE, 511)
Curatorial Power: Selection, Visibility, and Narrative
Rujeko Hockley (Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art)
Alfredo Jaar (Artist)
Aliza Nisenbaum (Artist)
Chair: Amb. Randi Charno Levine
The seminar is open to the academic community and the public.
More information: https://lisbonconsortium.com/extracurricular-seminars/
Registration: lxconsortium@ucp.pt
The Lisbon Consortium 