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
Alice Vale de Gato

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

✕

Category

✕

Year

✕

✕

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

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

November 2025

Fri21.11.2506:30PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Presentation of the book ‘Performing Matters, flesh hues, skeletal forms’, by Vera Mota

— With Vera Mota and André Barata

Fri21.11.2506:30PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois

08.11 — 08.02.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Workshop visit to the exhibition ‘The Unnamable’ with the Educational Service

08.11 — 08.02.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

01.11 — 08.02.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Workshop visit to the exhibition ‘Memória Fantasma’ with the Educational Service

01.11 — 08.02.26

Galeria Zé dos Bois

October 2025

Fri24.10.2506:00PM

Zé dos Bois Bookshop

Presentation of the book “Onda Avalanche Vulcão”, by Mauro Restiffe and Maria Manoella

— Conversation with Mauro Restiffe, Maria Lago, and Antonio Julio Duarte

Fri24.10.2506:00PM

Zé dos Bois Bookshop

Thu02.10.2507:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois Bookstore

Launch of “The book where the drawing is the title”

— by Lukas Marxt, published by ATLAS

Thu02.10.2507:00PM

Galeria Zé dos Bois Bookstore

June 2025

Wed18.06.2507:00PM

Zé dos Bois Bookshop

Book Launch of ‘Vosso Dedo’

— With Sílvia Prudêncio, Cláudia Madeira, Joana Meirim and Joana Campos

Wed18.06.2507:00PM

Zé dos Bois Bookshop

01.06 — 06.09.25

Galeria Zé dos Bois

Workshop visit and guided tour of the exhibition ‘Fricção Científica’ with the Educational Service

01.06 — 06.09.25

Galeria Zé dos Bois

I accept

By using this website you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy.