The event aims to raise funds for the construction of the Casa do Artista in northern Portugal, as the venue’s website underscores the importance of coming together for a common cause: ensuring dignity, shelter, and recognition for artists who have shaped history.
A few weeks ago, Miguel Guedes, president of the Association of Friends of the Coliseu do Porto, described the concert as “a window of hope for a house that does not yet exist.”
“Ideally, these Casas do Artista would multiply throughout the country, but the truth is there’s only one, and it’s in Lisbon,” stated Guedes, highlighting the longstanding ambition among many in the sector to establish a facility in the North, which has yet to see concrete developments.
Founded in 1999, the Casa do Artista in Lisbon aims to support, dignify, and protect those involved in artistic and cultural activities, as stated on its website, which includes a senior residence.
Miguel Guedes described such a facility as “a safe place for an end or beginning of life,” noting various initiatives are organized to engage both the community and residents.
“I hope the [concert] becomes a celebration moment, enabling us to recruit more members, promote the project, and, with the increased visibility, urge political authorities to assume their responsibility and assist us,” Guedes said.
He sees this as a turning point: “We either establish this as an absolute necessity, prompting everyone to assume their responsibilities, or we need to seek an alternative solution.”
In a recent communiqué, João Cunha, president of the Artists’ Mutual Association (AMAR), noted that “the future Casa do Artista project has been approved since 2009, though it requires revisions for size and safety compliance, and an administrative error prevented the construction from advancing.”
“We are currently reigniting the process, having initiated contact with architect Manuel Correia Fernandes to secure the promised land with the Matosinhos Municipality, ensuring the project’s redesign in accordance with regulatory size and safety standards,” the statement added.
Last week, an official from the Matosinhos Municipality confirmed their continued willingness to facilitate the development of the Casa do Artista in the North. The local government had previously resolved to allocate a municipal plot for a senior residence accommodating 60 residents.
However, the project, designed by architect Correia Fernandes, did not receive approval. Upon review during Luísa Salgueiro’s presidency, the site was identified as part of an Urban Area Available for Consolidation (AUDAC), lacking the necessary space for the project as proposed.
Today’s concert lineup features Gisela João, GNR, Miguel Araújo, Ornatos Violeta, the Philharmonic Band of Matosinhos-Leça, José Raposo (director of the Lisbon Casa do Artista), Óscar Branco, Pedro Lamares, Rita Reis, and Rui Xará.
Tickets are priced between 10 and 40 euros.
