Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Lisbon, has been overseeing the Culture portfolio since May 2024, following the resignation of the previous councilor, Diogo Moura (CDS-PP), due to allegations of electoral fraud. Moedas proudly highlights the city's investments in various cultural sectors, including cinema, museums, and theater.
Despite Moura's return to the Lisbon City Council (CML) in January, he was reassigned to other departments, leaving Moedas directly involved in a strategic area aimed at making Lisbon "a capital of innovation, culture, and art."
In a telephone interview with SAPO Mag, Moedas emphasized a significant 23% increase in the culture sector's budget for 2025, rising from 52 to 64 million euros. He pointed out the presence of three theaters in Parque Mayer and the continuation of the "Um Teatro em Cada Bairro" program.
The plastic artist Julião Sarmento. Credits: Lusa
New initiatives include the Pavilhão Julião Sarmento on Avenida da Índia, set to open on June 4, showcasing a vast collection of over 1200 works by artists like Marina Abramovic and Rui Chafes. The gallery will offer free entry from June 5 to 8.
Additionally, the Galeria Avenida da Índia in Belém will focus on the CML's contemporary art collection, featuring purchases from ARCO Lisboa. Moedas also mentioned the MAAT and Cordoaria Nacional as key venues in establishing Lisbon as a "cluster of modern and contemporary art, from Baixa to Belém."
Puppet Museum. Credits: Lusa
The Puppet Museum, closed for renovations since December 2024, will reopen in June with restructured rooms and new exhibits. The museum will also feature enhanced collections, new exhibitions, and free entry days.
In August, the first Mock Fest'25, International Comedy Festival, will take place at Cinema São Jorge, featuring international and Portuguese comedians like Daniel Sloss and Ricardo Araújo Pereira.
Tribeca Festival Lisboa. Credits: Gonçalo Sá
The city has also supported film festivals like IndieLisboa and DocLisboa, and the inaugural Tribeca Festival Lisboa, held at the Unicorn Factory in Beato, despite some criticism over ticket prices.
Moedas also found spaces for renowned artistic entities like the Academia de Amadores de Música and Artistas Unidos, solving long-standing location issues.
"Lisbon has become a magnet for culture and events, cinema, theater, dance, crucial for the city's project," Moedas stated. "We need to do more, of course, but we've done a lot, and that's recognized by the city's attractiveness."
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