The Serralves Museum (Museum of Contemporary Art of the Serralves Foundation), located in the city of Porto, is considered one of the best museums in all of Europe dedicated to contemporary art, holding works by some of the greatest contemporary artists, such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Claes Oldenburg, Anselm Kiefer, Gerhard Richter, Cindy Sherman, Steve McQueen and Joan Miró.
The building, designed by the architect Siza Vieira, is surrounded by the Serralves Park (about 3.5 hectares), where works of art by various contemporary artists are also on display, alongside the typical flora of the northern region of Portugal, such as oaks, birches and yew trees.[1]
The Museum is considered a reference space, at an international level, with regard to contemporary art exhibitions. The museum's permanent collection, which includes references to many prominent artists, is essentially made up of works made from the late 1960s to the present day.
History
editOn April 5, 1990, a protocol was signed between the Portuguese State and the Serralves Foundation for the deposit of the collection of works of art, signed by the Secretary of State for Culture Pedro Santana Lopes.
The project contract for the Museum of Contemporary Art is signed with the architect Siza Vieira on March 6, 1991.
The Museum project was submitted for European funding on the 28th of June 1995 and on the 27th of July of that year it was publicly presented by Prime Minister Cavaco Silva.
On November 27, 1996, the first stone of the Museum was laid by Prime Minister António Guterres.
On June 6, 1999, it was inaugurated in a ceremony presided over by the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio.[2]
Enlargement
editThe expansion, which should be completed by June 2023, will have the signature of the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
The objectives of the investment include reinforcing the museum's exhibition area, allowing it to increase and diversify the existing museological and artistic offer, dedicating a wing to the development of the Foundation's collection (which includes part of the Álvaro Siza archive and the Manoel de Oliveira collection) and empower reserve functions.
The building will have a floor for reservations and two exhibition floors with interconnectable and adjustable rooms.
The financing of NORTE 2020 (Regional Operational Program for the North) will be four million and 250 thousand euros for an eligible investment that amounts to five million euros.
References
edit- ^ "Best museums in Europe". Europe's Best Destinations. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
- ^ "Ampliação do Museu de Serralves com financiamento comunitário aprovado".