After the temporary departure from Convento da Saudação due to the collapse of its ceiling, O Espaço do Tempo has its headquarters at Magina, an emblematic building where an industrial workshop operated in the 20th century. Located in the city center, Magina has two studios, a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable, relaxing and sunny outside area connecting two apartments where some of our artists are usually housed.

Blackbox is one of our oldest workspaces, being part of O Espaço do Tempo since 2013. This studio has hosted numerous artistic residencies and has seen some of the best work in the performing arts in Portugal. Like XL Box, it is also surrounded by a mainly commercial block, but still close to the heart of the town.

XL Box is our newest venue in Montemor-o-Novo, located side by side with workshops and small factories. Opened in 2022, this place was a warehouse used mainly for events and parties, and was transformed by O Espaço do Tempo into a large working studio, allowing the artistic community to work on larger scale productions. It also has five double rooms, a kitchen and a common area, all connected by a courtyard full of warmth and light.

For its centrality and grandeur, Cineteatro Curvo Semedo marks the landscape of Montemor-o-Novo. The opening of this important cultural venue, on January 17th 1960, is an important milestone in the history of a town that lives intrinsically connected to culture. The Theater, designed by architect Raul Lino, has a unique acoustics and has a seating capacity of about 700 people.

Carlista is one of the oldest philharmonic bands in Portugal, created over 150 years ago in Montemor-o-Novo. At their headquarters, surrounded by a public garden and next to Cineteatro Curvo Semedo, they have a generously sized room that, as in previous years, will be used by O Espaço do Tempo for the Portuguese Platform. 

Like in other municipalities in Portugal, Montemor-o-Novo has a long-standing bullfighting tradition. Since the 15th century, bullfights took place in Praça do Corro, now known as Praça Miguel Bombarda. In 1882, the current bullring, designed by António Pedro Sameiro, was inaugurated in Rossio, with a seating capacity of 3,000.

Oficinas do Convento was founded in 1996 and its headquarters is at Convento de São Francisco in Montemor-o-Novo. It has been a UNESCO Center since 2010. With a strong multidisciplinary approach, it works across different artistic fields, ranging from visual arts to ceramics and architecture. All meals during the Portuguese Platform will happen here. 

For this edition of the Portuguese Platform, O Espaço do Tempo tried to find unconventional spaces in Montemor-o-Novo. In this context, a complex of industrial warehouses, currently occupied by various businesses, is transformed into a unique stage for artistic presentation, offering an unexpected and stimulating environment for creators and audiences alike.

The Sala Estúdio Valentim de Barros is part of the former Miguel Bombarda psychiatric hospital, named in honor of the dancer Valentim de Barros. This new space, created in 2024, is promoted by Largo Residências, a cultural and social cooperative that fosters artistic creation and social inclusion in a self-sustaining way. It features a foyer, a multi-purpose room, a Blackbox, and an audience of 101 seats.

Teatro Variedades is one of the most iconic buildings in Parque Mayer, Lisbon, inaugurated in 1926 and designed by architect Urbano de Castro. Managed by Lisboa Cultura, the new Teatro Variedades is now a 285-seat venue that hosts a diverse range of artistic projects, from theatre to music.

Teatro do Bairro Alto (TBA) is one of Lisbon’s new municipal theatres. It is dedicated to the creation and presentation of experimental artistic projects, along with the discursive practices that surround and permeate them. The TBA intersects artists who are emergent and established, Portuguese and international, from the various areas of the performing arts, with an audience that is given the tools to be adventurous and the urge to return.