Centro de Artes e Criatividade

About the museum

The Centro de Artes e Criatividade (CAC) is a cultural facility of the Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras, opened in 2021, with the Carnival as its central theme. The project is by the architect José Neves, who won the competition, and it is based on the former slaughterhouse and an abandoned quarry, located near one of the city's entrances, in the Encosta de São Vicente neighbourhood.

The former slaughterhouse was rehabilitated and became the main entrance, with exhibition rooms. The existing courtyard was transformed into a core of circular stairs with a lantern, which marks the start of the exhibition route. The intervention involved about 590 m² of rehabilitation and 2815 m² of new construction.

The permanent exhibition, “Carnaval: Ritos, Artes e Criatividade” (Carnival: Rites, Arts and Creativity), explores expressions of this cultural event in various parts of the world, as well as the history, arts and protagonists of the Torres Vedras Carnival. The centre also has a documentation centre, a shop and a programme of temporary exhibitions, performances and activities.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Carnaval: Ritos, Artes e Criatividade”
• Rehabilitated former municipal slaughterhouse, designed by José Neves
• Documentation centre open to researchers and the public
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Carnaval: Ritos, Artes e Criatividade – Exhibition on the Carnival as ritual and artistic expression, with its characters, masks and allegorical floats, and on the history of the Torres Vedras Carnival.

Founded

2021

Operated by

Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car from Lisbon, take the A8 to exit 7 (Torres Vedras Sul) or, alternatively, the N8; from Porto, take the A8 to exit 8 (Torres Vedras Norte). The nearest airport is Lisbon Airport.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The centre has a shop and a documentation centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.