Culture, Arts and Peace
On Friday, 24 July 2026, from 20:00 to 21:30, the Universal Peace Federation of Portugal (UPF Portugal) held another online session of its Advisory Council, on the theme “Culture, Arts and Peace”, presented by Ambassador for Peace Dr. Amir Shayesteh Tabar.
The President of UPF Portugal, Dr. Sérgio Vieira, opened the session by presenting the objectives of the Advisory Council, now in its 8th session (approximately every three months since 10 February 2024). The Council brings together individuals with experience and knowledge across a range of general and specialised fields, with the purpose of providing guidance, recommendations and possible solutions to society, involving organisations, institutions, companies and governments. Pertaining to UPF Portugal, this is a group of Ambassadors for Peace and partners - about 16 active members - who assist as advisers to this ECOSOC-accredited NGO in Portugal. The session was attended by various participants, most of whom are directly connection to, or have an interest in, culture, the arts and peacebuilding.
Presentation of Dr. Amir Shayesteh Tabar
Dr. Amir Shayesteh Tabar was introduced as a renowned Iranian artist, born on 7 April 1967, recognised for his multiple talents as a painter, poet and filmmaker. His work is distinguished by its pioneering ability to build bridges between the history of traditional Eastern art and the most advanced digital technologies.
It was also highlighted that UPF brings together people from different countries, different cultures and different areas of civil society. Its work is organised across eight specific fields, including politics, interfaith relations, academia, economics, media, as well as arts and culture. Although there are still relatively few Ambassadors for Peace in Portugal in the last field, several individuals already stand out, including Dr. Antonieta Gomes and Professor Delmar Gonçalves, alongside others who emerged during the programme and may support in strengthening this sector.
Future Projects and Proposals
Dr. Amir Shayesteh Tabar, who is also an international artist and cultural diplomat, presented a proposal for collaboration and dialogue in partnership with UPF Portugal and the international UPF network. The objective is to promote peace, intercultural discussion, human dignity, artistic freedom and mutual understanding through cultural and artistic initiatives in Portugal, Europe and other continents. The presentation focused on the artistic project “War and Peace”, a large-scale immersive exhibition combining painting, video, installation and audio to raise awareness of the consequences of war, forced displacement and climate change.
Following this address, consensus was reached on organising a pilot exhibition at the UPF Peace Embassy in Lisbon, ideally around the International Day of Peace on 21st September. The exhibition will be structured around four main pillars: War—through immersive images of conflict and destruction; Spiritual Peace—representing figures and references from different traditions, including Buddha, Christ and Gandhi; Displacement and Refugees— highlighting the impact of humanitarian crises across generations; and Climate Change— addressed as a potential driver of conflict, particularly concerning access to clean water and human survival.
In the final part of the meeting several possibilities for collaboration were identified. Dom Nuno Henriques Barroso - Templar and Musician - agreed to share his contacts across the Portuguese-speaking world, also his instrumental music and poetry. Dr. Antonieta - Writer and Poet - expressed her willingness to mobilise artists and explore funding sources and partnerships. Professor Delmar - Writer and Poet - stressed the importance of an Iranian voice for peace in the current geopolitical context. Prophet Pedro Garcia - Pastor of the Oásis International Ministry Church - works in design, operates Oásis TV and manages humanitarian and volunteer projects between Europe and Africa, offered his network of contacts in design and media in Portugal and other countries.
Regarding funding, potential sources identified included the European Union cultural funds; the Ministry of Culture; private foundations; banking institutions. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was also mentioned as a potential partner, funder or host venue. The importance of a broad outreach strategy and a strong network of local and international contacts was further stressed.
To follow up, UPF Portugal will organise an informal brainstorming meeting with the group to define the way forward. Dr. Tabar will share the structure and the organisational model for the upcoming “Guild of Portugal for War and Peace” project, while interested participants will exchange contacts with a view to establishing a working committee. Dom Barroso will also send previously published musical pieces for review and possible inclusion in the programme.
The exact date and logistics of the pilot exhibition, the formal composition of the committee and the first funding streams to prioritise remain to be confirmed. The session concluded with a positive outlook on the potential for collaboration between artists, institutions and Ambassadors for Peace, thus reinforcing the role of culture and the arts as instruments of dialogue, awareness-raising and peacebuilding.