ZDB

Mission

Created in 1994 as a nonprofit organization by a civic initiative, Galeria Zé dos Bois (ZDB) is an art center based in a 2.500m² palace in the heart of Bairro Alto, Lisbon. A creation, production and promotion structure for contemporary art, ZDB instigates the research and investigation of artists involved with visual and performing arts, as well as film and music. The center produces and presents exhibitions, and hosts more than 150 arts events per year, including residencies, educational programs, theater, dance performances, lectures, and music concerts. Driven by the desire to intensify and exchange knowledge with artists through creative practices, ZDB promotes international and local residencies and establishes long-term relationships with artists, aiming to produce unique projects.

Activities

Visual Arts
ZDB stimulates the artistic research and creation by providing means of production and visibility to national and international artists. All ZDB’s exhibitions are accompanied by actions of the Educational Department such as cinema cycles, debates, guided tours and workshops.

Negócio – Performative Arts
ZDB develops and hosts more than 30 artistic residencies and/or plays per year. Focusing on co-productions and on-site creation, our team assists all the creation process, supporting design, production, communication, presentation and promoting its circulation. In addition to supporting independent creators, ZDB has been welcoming and developing synergies with a significant number of associated structures.

ZDBmüzique – Music
ZDBmüzique seeks to give space to creative manifestations in music and it aims to promote transgressive and exploratory music acts, with different techniques and languages: improvised music, electroacoustic, jazz, modern pop, rock and noise. ZDBmüzique also promotes the creation (with artistic residencies) and circulation of music through partnerships with other institutions such as: Casa da Música, Serralves, Teatro Maria Matos, Teatro Aveirense, Centro Cultural Vila Flor, Gnration, Teatro Municipal da Guarda amongst others.

Department of Education
ZDB’s department of education was born in 2005. It aims to stimulate the reflection on the field of artistic production in a constructive and participative way. The department of education conducts regular guided tours to exhibitions, settled by appointment; it also carries out programs in the scope of public education and provides access to a specific program of performing arts.

History

ZDB started in 1994 as a non-profit association. Its purpose, was to “promote exhibitions, installations, video shows, performances, musical performances and other activities” in the artistic field. The primordial aim of ZDB’s fifteen founders was to create an alternative structure to the institutional and commercial panorama that they faced in the beginning of the decade of 1990. At present, ZDB still retains the identity that made its history, a transversal idea of public service who values the spirit of collaboration and empathy, constantly searching for new audiences, but always maintaining a strong relationship with the surrounding community, while stimulating debate and participation.

Team

Art Curation and Visual Arts Management
Natxo Checa

Programming and Performative Arts Management
Marta Furtado

Programming and Music Production
Marcos Silva

Communication
Raquel Carmo

Production
Maria Rui Cunha

Programming Segundas na z
Laura Gama Martins

Assistance to the Visual Arts
Sofia Medeiros

Educational Programme
Inês Raposo

Accounting
Contatraduz

Graphic Design
Sílvia Prudêncio

Graphic Design (segundas na z and ZDB Bookstore exhibitions)
Maria Clara Lima

Archive Management
Inês Henriques

Technical Manager
Olga Matviychuk

Bookstore
Alexandre Rendeiro

Electrical Technician
Ricardo Ferreira

Maintenance
Cesário Dias
Ivete Gomes

Installation and Building Maintenance
Vitalyi Tkachuk (Volunteer)

Front of house and bar
Aúna Nunes, Bernardo Pereira, Carlos Gaspar, Carlos Eça, Eno, Francisco Correia, Inês Correia Mendes, Mariana do Carmo, Matilde Basto, Mauro Soares, Rita Peças, Rodrigo Santos

Text Editing
Alexandre Ribeiro, André Santos, Bruno Silva, Miguel Rocha, Nuno Afonso

Sócios

To enjoy ZDB’s membership status and have the membership card we propose an annual fee of 30€. The ZDB Membership Card offers:

⟡ Free entrance to all exhibitions

⟡ Free entrance for 10 concert per year to be designated by ZDB *

⟡ Free entrance for 3 concerts at ZDB at the members’ choice *

⟡ Free entrance to 2 performing arts sessions at members’ choice *

⟡ Free access to ZDB Terrace and 49 Bar

To be a ZDB Member or renew your annual membership simply fill out this membership form. Payment can be made at the entrance of ZDB on working days or by transfer via mail: reservas@zedosbois.org

* upon reservation with 48h in advance

Learning

Tipology

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Category

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Year

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November 2026

21.11 — 28.11.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

SISMO–SINAL

— workshop and collective presentation

21.11 — 28.11.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Sat14.11.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

Book launch ‘Os Mistérios de Casimiro’ by António Pocinho

— with Samuel Úria, Vasco Santos e Miguel Gouveia

Sat14.11.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

07.11 — 29.01.27

Livraria Zé dos Bois

NEW MANUAL

— by Inês Raposo

07.11 — 29.01.27

Livraria Zé dos Bois

October 2026

Thu22.10.2606:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Tardes-Noites Abertas

— discussion session

Thu22.10.2606:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Wed21.10.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

Presentation of the book ‘BFKA Cutencyclopedia’

— with Ana Matilde Sousa, Marcos Farrajota e Pedro Moura

Wed21.10.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

Sat10.10.2604:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Guided tour of the exhibition with audio description

— RedSkyFalls (Réplica)

Sat10.10.2604:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

June 2026

Fri19.06.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

Launch of the book ‘Crânio Impromptu’ by Brassalano Graça

— with Abílio Neto, Brassalano Graça and Natxo Checa

Fri19.06.2606:00PM

Livraria Zé dos Bois

May 2026

23.05 — 22.11.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Workshop visit to the exhibition ‘RedSkyFalls (Réplica)’ with the Educational Service

23.05 — 22.11.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

23.05 — 30.09.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Workshop visit to the exhibition ‘Bruscky em Brusque’ with the Educational Service

23.05 — 30.09.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

12.05 — 14.05.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

The Female Singers: 1970/2020

— Seminar with Diedrich Diederichsen | Maumaus

12.05 — 14.05.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

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