Joana da Palma Monbaron is an educator, researcher, and cultural organizer whose work sits at the intersection of contemporary art, pedagogy, and institutional practice. She holds a BA and MA in Art History and Russian Studies from the University of Geneva, as well as an MA in Contemporary Art History from the University of Manchester/Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Her professional trajectory spans formal education and the institutional art world. She has taught art history at the secondary level (Geneva, 2009-2012) and has held key leadership positions in major international contemporary art initiatives. Within these roles, she has been responsible for devising interpretive strategies for diverse publics - ranging from art professionals and academics to schools, social centers, and local communities. Her expertise includes developing visitor engagement policies, training and managing mediation teams, and overseeing the operational logistics of educational departments and artistic projects. Beyond the framework of large-scale exhibitions, she designs and coordinates long-term collaborative projects that facilitate meaningful exchanges between artists, researchers, and specific interest groups. Notable projects she has co-initiated include Tracings Out of Thin Air (2015-2018), Invisible Archives Marseille (2018-2020), and Educational U-turn: Who Else Is Producing Knowledge in Culture? (2021). Since 2021, she has been a PhD candidate at the Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, supported by a Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) scholarship. Her doctoral research critically examines contemporary art institutions aiming to reconsider and reimagine the social contract of culture in 21st-century Europe.