Coimbra Visual Arts Circle - Headquarters Circle

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Arts Centre

District: Coimbra > Coimbra > Coimbra > Alta

Location

The Coimbra Centre of Plastic Arts, Headquarters Circle is located in the city of Coimbra, within the area known as "Alta". Its address is on a characteristic street, composed of a set of rental houses built in the 1930s. Its proximity to the lower level of the Monumental Staircase gives it an urban position that invites exploration of the surrounding area, revealing a less obvious face of the city.

Origin and Artistic Mission

Founded in 1958, the Coimbra Centre of Plastic Arts (CAPC) is an autonomous cultural association, recognized by the Portuguese State for its manifest cultural interest. Its primary mission focuses on the promotion and dissemination of visual arts, with particular emphasis on contemporary art. Over the decades, it has sought to raise awareness and engage the public, providing a deeper understanding of current artistic panoramas and fostering a taste for cultural enjoyment.

A Space with a History in Art

The building that serves as the headquarters for this institution possesses a rich and unique history. Originally conceived as the residence of a bourgeois family in the 1930s, it transformed over time into a true laboratory of expressive practices. This space proved to be of great conceptual openness, conducive to reflection and artistic activism. Prominent names in contemporary Portuguese art, such as Túlia Saldanha, Alberto Carneiro, Ângelo de Sousa, Julião Sarmento, Pedro Cabrita Reis, among many others, found fertile ground here for the realization of their ideas.

The Headquarters Circle was the stage for artistic creations from distinct eras, from late Modernism to Post-Modernism, hosting critical and interrogative impulses about the Western artistic regime. The identity between the domestic architecture of Rua Castro Matoso and the profound historical and artistic experience that unfolded here is a notable aspect of this place.

Cultural Dynamism and Collection

Recognized as an important center for independent art in Portugal, the Coimbra Centre of Plastic Arts functions as a dynamic hub for contemporary artistic production and dissemination. Its work pays particular attention to emerging artistic production, complemented by a significant collection of contemporary art, which has been consistently built since 1992. The Headquarters Circle maintains an active role in presenting exhibitions and promoting multidisciplinary cultural activities, continuously contributing to the cultural fabric of Coimbra and the country.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt