Since its foundation, it has promoted and actively participated in the artistic and cultural activities of Algarve (the location of its headquarters) through specific protocols of collaboration with Municipalities, Cultural Associations and with the Algarve Regional Direction of Culture: it is now a relevant stakeholder for the region. The research produced at the CIAC is disseminated by the surrounding community through multiple outreach activities, and discussed in various international networks.
The Research Center for Arts and Communication (CIAC) is a research unit funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, established in 2008 through the merger of two research centers: the Research Center in Communication Sciences and Arts of the University of Algarve and the Research Center in Theater and Cinema of the Higher School of Theater and Cinema of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (IPL).
CIAC currently operates four main poles. The first is located at the Higher School of Theater and Cinema of IPL, with a primary focus on film and theater studies. The second pole is situated at the Open University, associated with the Ph.D. program in Digital Media Art. Based at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, the third pole is dedicated especially to digital literacy and social inclusion, and lastly, the most recent one is located at the University of Maia.
CIAC has been conducting innovative research in the field of arts, encompassing visual and performing arts, digital media art, and film studies. In the realm of communication, it explores media literacy, digital communication, intercultural communication, and literary tourism. This approach combines the creation of dissemination platforms with the analysis of scientific knowledge communication in these spheres, maintaining a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary profile since its inception.
The mission of the Research Center in Arts and Communication encompasses various objectives intertwined to foster significant advancements in the fields of education, research, and knowledge promotion within its areas of operation.
CIAC is committed to developing advanced education in the 2nd and 3rd cycles, establishing strategic collaborations with research and educational units and institutions, both nationally and internationally.
In terms of research, CIAC is dedicated to analyzing the material, virtual, and technological supports of media, artistic, and communicative phenomena, including the creation of digital platforms related to research objects, both in fundamental and applied aspects. Research also encompasses the appropriation of media and artistic languages. Studies in Literacy are highlighted, covering the domains of media, arts, and science, as well as the fields of mediation, interculturality, and communicative multimodality.
CIAC has been conducting applied research in artistic creation and teaching laboratories, covering various areas of the Arts, such as theater, literature, cinema, visual arts, and digital arts, as well as in the field of communication. This approach aims to establish connections between fundamental research hypotheses and the creation processes inherent in various forms of artistic expression.
The Center organizes regular scientific meetings, such as seminars, colloquia, and conferences, to foster the exchange of ideas among audiences from local, national, and international institutions. Moreover, it ensures an extensive editorial line with the aim of disseminating the knowledge produced by its researchers.
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