Nuno Crespo appointed Chief Curator of the first Art Triennale of Catholic Universities
The curator of the first Art Triennale of Catholic Universities, to be held across multiple locations in 2026, is Portuguese. Nuno Crespo, director of the School of Arts at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, has been appointed by the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Roman Curia to lead the curatorial direction of a global project entitled “Art Cut”.
“The Art Cut Triennale – Art Triennale of Catholic Universities aspires to be an extensive conversation — a dialogue envisioned by His Eminence Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça — that will unfold across multiple geographies, involving a wide team and engaging with diverse institutions,” explains Nuno Crespo. “It is a collective endeavour for a shared project where art, education, and culture intersect and reveal their central role in the development of intelligent, humane, and empathetic societies,” he adds.
“What we propose is an exhibition spread around the world, bringing together artists who speak different languages and work through varied poetic, artistic, cultural, social, and political practices. What unites them is the conviction that art serves as a vehicle for a global conversation about the world, about humanity, about our joys and our sorrows,” highlights the director of the School of Arts.
The Art Triennale of Catholic Universities will take place across multiple exhibition venues, following a hybrid format that includes digital platforms, urban installations, and collaborations with academic and artistic institutions. The curatorial programme will feature both emerging and established artists from around the world, challenging them to reflect on contemporary issues.
“Universidade Católica Portuguesa is deeply committed to an idea of education as a promise for the future - one that integrates professional excellence with innovation, and aesthetic and social sensitivity. The coordination of the Art Triennale of Catholic Universities, organised by the Holy See, is precisely a recognition of our affirmation that diversity and artistic freedom of expression are fundamental to our educational mission,” states Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
The Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Vatican has taken an active role in promoting contemporary culture. Among its initiatives are its participation in the Venice Biennale since 2018 and the recent creation of the gallery “Conciliazione 5” in Rome, launched as part of the Jubilee of Artists 2025, a space that strengthens the dialogue between art, spirituality, and contemporary society.
The announcement was made today, 30 October, in Rome, during the international congress “Educational Constellations – A Pact with the Future”, promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Gravissimum Educationis, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on education, a key document on the role of education in the Church’s mission and in integral human development.
The event was part of the Jubilee of the Educational World, under the theme “To Educate is an Act of Hope”, which brought together educators from around the world in Rome for a unique moment of celebration and reflection on the role of education in contemporary society. Several members of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa attended, underlining the University’s commitment to educational excellence and to the values that guide its mission.
