The initiative consists of inquiries, interviews and recommendations on how to combat harassment in the arts. The results will be known in 2026.
In June, the First National Inquiry on Labor Harassment (sexual and moral) in the arts in Portugal. The initiative is promoted by the Muda (Movement for Change against Harassment in the Arts), which opens its official website this Monday.
The study, funded by the Directorate-General of Arts (Dgartes) with 45 thousand euros, intends Map the reality of harassment In the national artistic sector, with an initial focus on the performance arts – theater, dance, street arts, music and circus. The results will be released in March 2026.
The investigation is conducted by a multidisciplinary team Composed of specialists in Labor Law, Sociology and Psychology, such as Joana Neto, Dália Costa, Ana Bártolo and Isabel S. Silva, coordinated by art professionals such as Raquel André, Catarina Vieira and Sara de Castro.
According to Isabel S. Silva, the goal is to “make a survey of what is a characterization of what is going on at national level”, identify the most affected contexts and profiles, Analyze the impacts on mental health and evaluate the knowledge of the rights and mechanisms of denunciation.
The study provides for several steps, starting with the national inquiry, followed by the Collection of quantitative and qualitative datainterviews and the formulation of recommendations for the cultural sector. The coordinators expect to obtain about a thousand answers, covering students and professionals of the performance arts over 18, who work in Portugal and understand Portuguese.
Raquel André points out that the completion of the inquiry, estimated in 20 minutes, will not serve to formalize complaints, but may boost its realization. “We believe that reflection generated by the inquiry It can lead more people to report harassment situations, ”he says to.
The project changes is the result of years of work on issues of gender, precariousness and harassment in the artistic sector, through meetings, artistic projects and collaborations with unions. In addition to the inquiry, Muda plans to develop a manual of good practices and promote conversations and training actions.
Américo Rodrigues, director-general of the arts, ensured that Dgartes is available to welcome and propose to protection the recommendations resulting from the study.
