31 August, 1, 2 September, 10 September, 25–27 September 2026 | Bucharest
ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni | CNDB | Rezidența9
The C.R.E.S.C. Festival marks the culminating event of C.R.E.S.C. – Network for Creation, Education, Health and Research, a two-year programme developed by AREAL and its partners between February 2025 and November 2026.
Over the course of two years, the project has fostered a community of care, responsibility and creativity, grounded in meaningful relationships between people with psychiatric diagnoses, children with special needs, parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists, medical professionals, artists, students, pupils and the wider public. The network brought together cultural organisations, universities, psychiatric hospitals, special education schools and social NGOs around four key pillars: education and mental health, professional development, art as a space for community reflection, and inclusive creation.
Throughout the programme, participants engaged in therapeutic and creative interventions in hospitals and social care institutions, multidisciplinary conferences, transdisciplinary laboratories, dissemination workshops, psycho-educational research, international residencies and training programmes, as well as a series of performative works developed together with partner communities.
The C.R.E.S.C. Festival showcases the outcomes of this process through performances, participatory installations and professional gatherings that address themes such as inclusion, mental health, motherhood, ageing, and the relationship between art and care. Bringing together artists, researchers, educators, healthcare practitioners and programme participants, the festival creates a space for dialogue and reflection on participatory artistic practices and their social impact.
The festival continues and expands the work developed by the partner organisations AREAL, IndieBox and Entuziart, contributing to the consolidation of an interdisciplinary framework at a moment when expressive and creative therapies are beginning to gain greater recognition in Romania.
PROGRAM
31 August, 1, 2 September 2026 (19:00 – 21:00) | Rezidența9
mind moving
Participatory performative installation
10 September 2026 (19:00 – 21:00) | National Center for Dance Bucharest (CNDB)
Polyphony of Gestures
An inclusive performance developed together with participants from the programme’s partner communities.
25 September 2026 (19:00 – 21:00) | ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni
The Bodies Where We Meet
A performative work developed within the C.R.E.S.C. programme, exploring the body as a space of encounter, vulnerability and belonging.
26 September 2026 | ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni | 10:30
International Conference: “Dancing from Inclusivity towards Complexity”
Organised in partnership with the European Dance Development Network (EDN).
10:30 – 10:40 Intruduction and Welcome AEUB Director Mihaela Păun and UNATC Vice-rector for research and development Associate professor Alexandru Berceanu
Panel 1/ Dissemination of Results C.R.E.S.C. team and partners
10:40 – 10:55 Lecturer professor Valentina De Piante (UNATC): Research The Body as Instrument of Inclusion and Associate professor Sara Santilli (Unipd-Padova / joins online)
10:55 – 11:05 University Lecturer, PhD. Loredana Pătrășcoiu: Case studies Școala Specială Sf. Nicolae
Impact of the Project:
11:05 – 11:20 UNATC Students, department Choreography: C.R.E.S.C. inclusive programs
11:20 – 11:30 Madalina Constantin, Teacher, Psychologist, Sf. Nicolae Special School Representative
11:30 – 11:40 Amedeea Enache – Executive Director Estuar Foundation
11:40 – 11:50 Q&A
Moderators: Alexandra Bălășoiu & Loredana Larionescu
Panel 2 / International Studies IT
11:50 – 12:00 Domenico Valenza, Deputy Director of the Italian Institute of Culture
12:00 – 12:15 Carla Bottiglieri and Thomas Greil
12:15 – 12:30 Matteo Maffesant, Director and filmmaker, co-founder of Elevator Bunker collective – ”Rethinking Cultural Accessibility: Practices of Co-Creation in the Creative Process and Audience Engagement” (Translator Silvia Niculae / joins online)
12:30 – 12:40 Q&A
Moderators: Alexandra Bălășoiu & Loredana Larionescu
*Break 30 min*
Panel 3 / International Studies UK/ RO/ HU
13:10 – 13:20 Rarița Zbranca, Programme Director, Cluj Cultural Center
13:20 – 13:30 Jonathan Meth, Lecturer and Curator/Director @ The Fence Network
13:30 – 13:40 Olga Macrinici
13:40 – 13:50 Katye Coe – Freelance Dance Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (joins online)
13:50 – 14:00 Dorka Farkas (HU), Choreographer and President of Artman association
14:00 – 14:10 Conclusions
14:10 – 14:30 Q&A
Moderators: Alexandra Bălășoiu & Loredana Larionescu
*LUNCH BREAK and NETWORKING*
27 September 2026 (19:00 – 21:00) | ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni
moving [m]others
A performative work exploring experiences of motherhood, care and transformation.
Throughout the festival, audiences and professionals will also be invited to informal gatherings, research presentations, discussions and networking activities dedicated to practitioners working across the fields of art, education, healthcare and social intervention.
C.R.E.S.C. – Network of Creation, Education, Health, Research is a program co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) and developed in partnership with Institutul Italian de Cultură din București, Centrul Național al Dansului București (CNDB), ARCUB, Universitatea Națională de Artă Teatrală și Cinematografică „I.L.Caragiale” (UNATC), Universitatea din București – Facultatea de Psihologie, Institutul Liszt – Centrul Cultural Maghiar București, Institutul Polonez din București, British Council, Liceul de coregrafie „Floria Capsali”, Școala Profesională Specială „Sf. Nicolae”, Spitalul de Psihiatrie Voila, Spitalul de Psihiatrie „Eftimie Diamandescu” – Bălăceanca, Fundația Estuar, Asociația Entuziart, Rezidența 9, Scena9.
Parteneri media: Bookhub, Clivaj, CVLTARTES, Happ.ro, Life.ro, Matca Literară, Observator Cultural, Palindrom, București FM, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Internațional, Revista Psyche, Subversiv, The Institute, Zeppelin, Zile și Nopți.
Thank you!