Held on May 4, 2025.

Speaker: Stan Berger, independent researcher, historian, art critic.

Stan Berger structured the conversation around three pillars: environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and therapeutic practice. On the ecological front, he presented several case studies where artists have moved beyond symbolic gestures – for instance, large‑scale installations built entirely from municipal waste, using recycled plastics and plant‑based pigments, and exhibitions designed to be carbon‑neutral through renewable energy and local material sourcing.

Regarding inclusion, Berger insisted that museum accessibility is not limited to wheelchair ramps; he detailed successful initiatives like tactile reproductions of paintings for visually impaired visitors, audio‑described tours, and sign‑language interpretation, as well as dedicated “quiet hours” for neurodivergent guests. He also addressed the growing field of art therapy in conflict‑affected zones, describing volunteer‑led workshops that help children and adults process trauma through creative expression – an area he believes urgently needs sustained institutional funding.

Berger concluded that contemporary art is no longer a passive object of contemplation but an active catalyst for behavioural change, bridging aesthetic experience with concrete social and ecological outcomes.