Date
1/6/2026

Convergences, the digital journal of the School of Applied Arts (ESART) at the Castelo Branco Polytechnic (IPCB), dedicated to research and arts education, has just launched its 37th issue — the first of 2026 — which brings together a collection of articles spanning the fields of design, arts education, culture and sustainability.

In the section on review articles and fundamental research, highlights include theoretical discussions on the interpretation of ‘less’ in design, the role of creativity in industrial design curricula aligned with European targets and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as practical proposals focused on the circular economy, such as the sustainable production of footwear.

The aspects of co-creation and experiential learning are also explored through co-design initiatives in marginalised communities, the impact of intensive educational programmes on the cultural heritage of Castelo Branco, and the influence of musical theatre creation on the development of social skills among secondary school students. This issue also addresses the application of virtual and augmented reality in contemporary art performances.

In the field of case studies and practical methodologies, this issue examines the early days of the electric vehicle industry in Portugal, the creation of the brand commemorating the centenary of the town of Caldas da Rainha, and the teaching methods applied to knitwear design. Museology and scenography feature in studies on the role of period rooms and on the use of drawing as a tool for affective cartography in children’s theatre rehearsals.

Finally, the journal explores contemporary themes of the avant-garde and music education, offering reflections on feminist subversion and algorithmic co-authorship in art using generative artificial intelligence, the identity horizons of music education in Portugal, and the use of graphic scores as a teaching resource in the training of music teachers.

Founded in 2008 at ESART-IPCB, and featuring between 12 and 15 articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish per issue, Convergences publishes in May and November, free of charge and in open access, original peer-reviewed findings that explore experiences and outcomes arising from research and practice in the fields of design, music and visual arts, promoting knowledge in these areas across all their fields of application, as well as their history, teaching and learning.