Que Classe

Que Classe (“How classy”) is a research project in sociology that aims to analyse the social inequalities that prevail among professional visual artists in Portugal and what factors favour inclusion or exclusion in institutional validation circuits.

The study aims to delve into how certain dimensions (such as gender, social origin and ethnic-racial belonging, for example) are interconnected, and what impact these identities have on the lives and success of those who aspire to a career in the visual arts.

In the first phase, an anonymous survey was put into circulation targeting Portuguese and foreign visual artists living in Portugal, with at least 5 years of activity. The goal is to have statistical data to better understand what’s the background of the artists.

The second phase will consist of interviews with various artists, gallery owners and curators on these same issues. The aim is to have portraits of specific trajectories, and access to personal experiences and individual life stories.

The results will be published at the end of 2023.