Inês Araújo is a core team member of DESCOLA, within the Education and Cultural Mediation division of the Lisbon City Council. Her research focuses on methodologies that link education, culture, and the arts. She led a youth consultation on democracy and cultural citizenship with the National Arts Plan and previously collaborated with the Bordalo Pinheiro Museum. A PhD candidate in Art Education at the University of Lisbon, she studies cultural institutions and public policy.

This presentation explores the DESCOLA program, a Lisbon City Council initiative that promotes cultural education through collaboration between schools and cultural institutions. Rooted in inclusivity and creativity, it seeks to transform museums and cultural spaces into safe, engaging environments for learning and self discovery. Through youth consultations with Generation Z, the project highlights how cultural participation fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and empowerment, inspiring young people to become protagonists of their own stories.