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Programme
The first route of the museum ship will be the Mediterranean, an area of millennia of history and exchange, which has always mobilized and nourished the inspiration of artists, and naturally invites intercultural dialogue.
Discover the programme of activities on the quayside and in the towns: performances, concerts, conferences, screenings, workshops, meetings and other events.
Upcoming events
Kimi Djabaté
As a heir to the Mandinka griot tradition, Kimi Djabaté places the balafon at the heart of his music, alongside the kora, guitar, percussion, and vocals. Based in Portugal, he weaves West African traditions together with jazz, blues, fado, and bossa nova, creating a soundscape that is both deeply rooted and resolutely contemporary. Sung in Mandinka, Creole, and Portuguese, his songs carry a message of social commitment: the defense of women’s rights, a call for peace, and a celebration of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. <span>Concert curated by Alain Weber. </span>
Lizatron
In a DJ set guided by her restless digger’s instinct, Lizatron crafts sonic journeys that move across genres, eras, and geographies, unveiling rare finds, textures, and unexpected atmospheres. Her selection—both precise and intuitive—shapes an immersive flow between the experimental and the danceable. The experience is expanded by a video projection of an original drawing by JAS, engaging in a sensory dialogue with the sound.
Lula Pena
Lula Pena is one of the most singular voices in contemporary Portuguese music. Blending folk traditions, improvisation and poetic storytelling, her performances unfold as intimate and unpredictable journeys between geographies, memories and languages.
Mike El Nite – Magic Karaoke
An interactive karaoke hosted by Mike El Nite, where the audience becomes the performer. Combining DJ set and live participation, this event creates a lively and playful atmosphere.
Children's Ground, Madalena Victorino
This performance was born from a grandmother’s wish to explain her work as a choreographer to her grandchildren, who became co-creators of something that did not yet exist. With musicians, performers and a set designer, Chão de Meninos emerged: a small land in Sintra where snow laughs, bears play and garden-carpets bloom. A dance and music piece celebrating the strength, laughter and delicacy of children. Production: Lavrar o Mar.
Workshop Mastro Sol, in preparation of Mastro Sol, Maja Escher
In this workshop, each participant shapes and creates their own edible form (biscuit-flag) made from biscuit dough that will be suspended as part of Mastro Sol, an installation inspired by vernacular celebrations and the mastros de promessa of the Alentejo region, where circular cakes are traditionally suspended on festive structures. Each form preserves the gesture and intention of the person who made it, becoming part of a collective artwork shaped by many hands. On June 27 at 11:30 am, when Mastro Sol is activated by the public, participants are invited to rediscover their own flag, see how it became part of the final installation, and harvest it to share, offer, or eat.
Caravanserá Workshop
Before the performance (on June 27th), audiences are invited to take part in a participatory workshop where movement, sound, and collective actions gradually shape the world of Caravanserá. Inspired by historical “caravanserais” – places of encounter and exchange –, the workshop creates an informal space where participants of different ages contribute to the atmosphere of the performance, blurring the boundaries between audience and performers.
Mastro Sol
In this workshop, each participant shapes and creates their own edible form (biscuit-flag) made from biscuit dough that will be suspended as part of Mastro Sol, an installation inspired by vernacular celebrations and the mastros de promessa of the Alentejo region, where circular cakes are traditionally suspended on festive structures. Each form preserves the gesture and intention of the person who made it, becoming part of a collective artwork shaped by many hands. On June 27 at 11:30 am, when Mastro Sol is activated by the public, participants are invited to rediscover their own flag, see how it became part of the final installation, and harvest it to share, offer, or eat.
Caravanserá
A participatory performance combining dance, music and procession. Inspired by the work of Maria José Ciríaco, Caravanserá invites audiences to join a collective and festive experience where everyone becomes part of the performance.
BRUXAS - ensaio para a esperança
BRUXAS - ensaio para a esperança invites audiences into a walk through Cascais where feminism, witch hunts and personal memories intersect and blur. Through fragmented narratives and unexpected voices, the performance unsettles official histories and reflects on hope as a fragile yet transformative gesture.
Violet
In a DJ set that brings together rhythmic tension and futuristic imagination, Violet summons mutant techno, acid house and off-centre rhythms to build an intense and unpredictable sonic narrative. Between physical pulse and conceptual exploration, the set reflects her connection to dancefloor cultures and the political histories of dance music. The video projection of an original drawing by JAS expands this sensory experience. The DJ programme at the Art Explora Festival is curated by Filho Único.
A garota não
"A garota não" is the musical project of Cátia Mazari Oliveira, combining songwriting and social reflection. Presenting "Ferry Gold", this concert brings an intimate and powerful look at contemporary realities.
Past events
Erdiola Kanda Mustafaj - Fryj, të fryshë, frymë. It's just a touch?
Fryj, të fryshë, frymë. It’s just a touch? is a ritual workshop by Erdiola Kanda, inspired by her Vlach heritage. Drawing from her grandmother’s stories, Kanda guides participants through a ritual of breath, memory, and transmission over three evenings. Each session includes an incantation, ancestral words, and Kanda’s own writing, reactivating the past and creating a space where generations meet in silence.
Zeineb Henchiri - Echo Chamber
Especially for the Art Explora Festival artist Zaineb Henchiri creates a performance that incorporates her recent research with existing performative elements in her practice. In her performances Henchiri creates different personas that function as alter egos of the artists as well characters she has encountered online and in her daily life. Echo Chamber is a performative reading accompanied by visual projections. The performance questions the ability to have a distinct voice within the contemporary realm of technological and political changes. Shadows Durres works as a repository of a patchwork of phrases left on the internet, messages shared with the artists, and available tutorials.
Bouchra Khalili – The Speeches Series—Words on the Streets
Words on Streets is a short film that features five immigrants in Genoa, Italy, w Developed collaboratively with members of migrant communities in Paris, Genoa, and New York, The Speeches Series highlights the power of speech and performance as tools for imagining alternative ways of belonging. ho create manifestos addressing nationality, citizenship, and belonging.
Lori Lako - Woven Echos Atelier
Through a workshop and presentation, Lori Lako engages participants in textile Through this workshop and presentation, Lako creates a space where participants engage with textile-preserving as both a personal and collective act, scanning personal pieces as a reflection on the shifting dynamics of labor, tradition, and identity.
Francesco Berati - Weaving Identity
Francesco Berati presents an artistic fashion show that brings attention to the importance of textiles within artistic production.
Lori Lako - Woven Echos Presentation
Through a workshop and presentation, Lori Lako engages participants in textile Through this workshop and presentation, Lako creates a space where participants engage with textile-preserving as both a personal and collective act, scanning personal pieces as a reflection on the shifting dynamics of labor, tradition, and identity.
Mimoza Ahmeti - The Approach
For this intimate presentation, poet and artist Mimoza combines poetry, music, and translation into a performative moment that blurs the boundaries of language, sound, and temporality.
Besa Mati - Extended DJ Set
Besa Mati is the first Albanian female DJ, hailing from Tirana, Albania, with a career spanning over two decades.
Reading session with Emira Shkurti from UNICEF
Join us for a reading session of the book « Të gjithë duhet të jemi feministë » with Emira Shkurti from UNICEF ! If you’re looking for an answer to the question « what does it mean to be a feminist today ? » the best response can be found in this book which explore this issue in a essayistic manner, reaching the conclusion that gender division has brought negative consequences for both men and women. The reading session is open to everybody and will create a friendly space for discussion and reflexion on feminism and gender.
THE THREE LINES
The three soloists are specialists in their field: Marine Sablonnière for medieval music, Henri Tournier for North Indian music and Isabelle Courroy for pastoral music from the Balkans and Anatolia, deploying the concept of oblique music which brings together music of creation and tradition.
The Albanian Cinematheque presents: Silent Mediterranean | A Premiere Cine-Concert
Curated by Albanian filmmaker Iris Elezi, Silent Mediterranean offers a rare cine-concert immersive experience featuring unique hand-tinted silent film travelogues from the Mediterranean region (1910–1927).
Elena Colombi - DJ Set
Elena Colombi’s sets are geared toward the unexpected. From cosmic psychedelia and pounding jungle to obscure post-punk and spoken word, they swirl through a cerebral world of noise.
Dardan Zhegrova - Lucky Pierre, Just from behind
Lucky Pierre is an ongoing performance series exploring intimacy, desire, and connection through a persona caught between giving and receiving, exposure and control. Inspired by queer slang, the character embodies duality, both active and passive, performing and being performed upon. Each episode unfolds through poetry, voice, movement, and sound, with a mask and costume serving as transformative tools that conceal and reveal. The work creates a space where personal experience and theatrical expression merge in a continuous negotiation of roles.
Rossella Biscotti - The Journey
The project re-imagines the Mediterranean region through sonic archives, which include sounds, songs, and voices from local musicians, fishermen, and activists.
Edona Vatoci & Viola
Edona Vatoci and Viola Recaj come together in a captivating sonic collaboration that merges electronic experimentation with raw, emotive vocals.
Frequently asked questions
The Art Explora Festival will take place from spring 2024 to spring 2026 in various Mediterranean cities.
Festival events take place both on the museum boat's quay and in heritage and/or emblematic sites in the stopover towns. To find out all about upcoming events in your town, consult our Agenda.
The Art Explora Festival offers a rich, multi-disciplinary program including visits to the museum ship, exhibition pavilions, virtual reality experiences, artistic performances, concerts, lectures, film screenings, creative workshops and meetings. You'll be able to discover local and international artists, as well as thinkers and cultural players exploring contemporary themes related to the Mediterranean region. To find out all about upcoming events in your city, consult our Agenda.
All Festival events are free of charge. Please note, however, that some events - such as workshops - require a reservation via the ticket office. Please consult the page dedicated to each event for more information on times and booking procedures.
To ensure that everyone has the best possible experience at the Festival, we have drawn up a visitors' charter listing a few good practices.
Yes, the boat is freely accessible on site. However, you can pre-book your time online on our website.
For reasons of safety and preservation of the boat, high heels and stilettos may not be worn on the boat.
To take part in the workshops and meetings offered during the Festival, you'll generally need to register in advance. Information on how to register will be available on the dedicated event page, where you can also find details of times and how to take part.
Yes, the Art Explora Festival also offers child-friendly activities, such as creative workshops specially designed for young participants. Take a look at the program to find out about events and activities for children and families.
The museum boat is open to all free of charge. To find out on which quay it will be moored, or to pre-book your slot, consult the page dedicated to your town.
Appropriate facilities have been set up on the Festival site for the reception and access of people with reduced mobility. The boat is equipped with a 1m-wide ramp, accessible to people with reduced mobility, but may require the accompaniment of a third party due to its gradient of over 6%. Access to the aft deck and immersive exhibition is possible. However, the upper deck is not accessible. Please inform us in advance of any special accessibility requirements, so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
Thank you for your interest in the Art Explora Festival! To find out more about our volunteer opportunities and to apply, please visit our "Become a volunteer"section of our website. There you'll find all the information you need about the roles available and the application procedure. We look forward to meeting you!
We're delighted to consider new partnerships for the Art Explora Festival. To find out how, please visit our dedicated page or write to us at contact@artexplora.org