How does the slogan ‘Creativity empowers us together’ resonate with you?

'For me, creativity is accessed when we have freedom—when we’re free from the psychological restraints that hold us back. Every human being is creative; it’s our society that has limited our capacity for perception. And to perceive is to have power. It’s like a door that, once opened, shows us that the world is far bigger than we imagined. And that means we can not only dream and broaden our horizons but also start building the paths to get there. This is fundamental for anyone. But especially for us LGBTQIAPN+ people, who are still often seen as "wrong," we understand that there’s nothing wrong with us—or with questioning the systems that oppress us. Creativity reveals how much I can do, how much goodness I have to offer the world. And so do others. It’s in this diversity that we recognize ourselves and unite, empowering one another.'

Can creativity help to shape a world where everyone feels included and valued, regardless of their background or identity?

'Absolutely. Creativity is one of the most precious tools for this. Creativity symbolizes an unconstrained psychic flow—an honest exchange with life itself. I had one of the strongest confirmations of this in a project I recently completed. We held a theater workshop in a local community here in Rio de Janeiro. The experience was incredible. It’s profoundly powerful to see people of different ages engaging in dialogue, talking about their territories, and building group connections—free from any discrimination, quite the opposite, full of cooperation. Creativity allows us to see how vast the world is, how infinite the possibilities are. And that I’ll only be able to take care of one part of things, and you another. Together, we can take our accomplishments and fulfillments to another level.'

How do you see your creative work contributing to political and social change?

'To live is a political act. Every person from a marginalized group—women, black people, LGBTQIAPN+ individuals, for example—learns early what it means to be unwanted, and the daily struggle to exist. Personally, as an actor and cultural producer, I need to reflect about life and express myself artistically. For me, it’s a necessity. And we’ve discovered how performing empowers us. Whether onstage or in life, we’ve learned that expressing who we are is profoundly powerful. It challenges oppressive systems, we recognize ourselves, strengthen ourselves, we create a bond as a community, and we are able to dream and see a path toward a life fully lived. This becomes possible through self-reflection, through the courage to be who we are, to exercise creativity in everyday life, and to declare that things don’t have to stay as they are. We are capable of so much more. May we dare to give ourselves permission.'

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Erik Martins de Albuquerque is a Brazilian activist with a vested interest in the intersection of human rights, performing arts and psychology. He is a member of the Youth Sounding Board of the Delegation of the EU in Brazil. Erik is also one of the 25 young participants who joined HR/VP Kaja Kallas in Brussels for the first Youth Policy Dialogue beginning of March 2025 with EU leaders. He is part of the "#OurVoiceOurFuture" community, a global network of young changemakers and content creators, ensuring that EU policies are inclusive, relevant, and aligned with the aspirations of the younger generation. The community of #OurVoiceOurFuture young allies collaborate on shared principles and interests, contributing their voices to crucial areas such as defending Human Rights, security, peace building, and global and climate diplomacy.