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.
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.
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.
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
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
Driven by the desire to intensify creative and production practices, ZDB promotes national and international residencies establishing long-term relationships and producing unique projects including artistic residencies, educational actions, theater, dance and music performances.