Lisbon's Cinema Império: A Cultural Gem Under Threat? Here’s What You Need to Know

Lisbon City Council Assures Cinema Império's Survival

The Lisbon City Council has responded to public concerns regarding the Cinema Império, emphasizing that a recently approved proposal does not jeopardize the cultural preservation of this historic site. The council's statement follows various public appeals aimed at safeguarding the memory of Cinema Império and ensuring it remains a cultural space within the city.

On Monday, the Portuguese Cinema Academy (APC) urged both the government and the city council to halt a project perceived as threatening the future of the Cinema Império, which has been leased to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) since 1998.

Recent Developments

The call for action came after a proposal was approved last week to alter the use of the cultural facility to a religious one, incorporating additional functions such as administrative services and activity rooms for children and youth. This proposal also includes plans to expand the building, which involves increasing the construction area and making exterior modifications, including changes to the façade and roof.

The APC noted, “The news of its reclassification from cultural to religious use and the beginning of works that disregard its cultural value foretell another irreparable loss for the city.” They highlighted the real and alarming threat of losing Cinema Império, drawing parallels with other iconic venues that have already disappeared.

Assurance from the City Council

In a clarification sent to Lusa, the Lisbon City Council reassured that the future of Cinema Império is not at risk. They stated that the approved proposal primarily aims to legalize adaptations and expansions already made to the building, while still preserving some identifiable symbols of its history.

The project received a favorable opinion from the DGPC/Cultural Heritage agency, which mandated the restoration of certain exterior symbols, including the letters that adorned the façade and the two armillary spheres that punctuated the pilasters. Additionally, it required restoration of interior finishes, murals, and other elements, ensuring the possibility of returning the building to its original function in the future.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a public petition advocating for the preservation of Cinema Império had garnered 7,122 signatures online.