In the first meeting of the new executive of the Coimbra City Council, the president of the municipality, Ana Abrunhosa (PS/Livre/PAN), expressed concern over the timetable for the transfer of State funds for the Manifesta nomadic biennial, scheduled for 2028 in Coimbra, advocating for a greater transfer of funds in the first two years.
When questioned, an official source from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport stated that “no changes to the payment schedule are foreseen,” which includes a transfer of one million euros via Turismo de Portugal in 2025 and an equal amount in 2026 from the same entity.
In 2027, a transfer of 1.5 million euros is planned (one million from Turismo de Portugal and half a million from the Cultural Promotion Fund), and in 2028, the year of the international biennial, half a million from the Cultural Promotion Fund.
The Ministry emphasized that the agreement between the Government and the Coimbra City Council “underwent several negotiation phases, with the State committing to financially support half of the anticipated costs [the global budget is eight million euros].”
“The specific timeline was coordinated with the previous executive of the Coimbra City Council and will be defined in the resolution of the Council of Ministers currently in the legislative process,” added the Ministry’s official source.
The Ministry also stated that it is “in open and ongoing dialogue with the Coimbra City Council,” stressing that “both parties aim to ensure the initiative’s success.”
Today, at the Coimbra Municipal Assembly, where the revision of the Major Planning Options (GOP) and the Budget to include funds associated with Manifesta for this year—previously unplanned—was discussed, Ana Abrunhosa addressed the issue.
The president of the Coimbra City Council noted that “there is not yet a written document from the Government” outlining the amounts to be transferred and the respective timeline.
“It is not just an event. It is something we hope will bring lasting change to the city,” Ana Abrunhosa said, noting that a payment to the entity responsible for Manifesta is expected by the end of November.
At the Assembly, municipal deputy José Dias (PS) again addressed the planning of payment tranches by the Government—a topic previously raised by Ana Abrunhosa—advocating for the “compliance with the previously approved schedule,” which allegedly involved a larger transfer of funds from the Government to the municipality in the first two years.
Most interventions by the municipal deputies from other parties represented in the Municipal Assembly expressed congratulations for this event being held in Coimbra, reflected in the final vote to alter the GOP: approved with only one abstention and two votes against from Chega.
According to communication about Manifesta at the first meeting of the new municipal executive, about 33% of the budget for this nomadic biennial will be spent on brand rights and operational services provided by the entity to be constituted, which will gather various local agents.
As part of this process, a transfer of 800,000 euros (plus VAT) is planned for payment of the Manifesta brand usage rights, and 1.386 million euros (plus VAT) is earmarked for operational services provided by the forthcoming entity.
The budget allocated for the Manifesta edition production in 2028 is 4.3 million euros (plus VAT).
The total amount is approximately 6.5 million euros, with VAT, amounting to the eight million euros anticipated.
