MUDAS – Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira
Contemporary art museum in Calheta, with about 400 works from the 1960s onwards, housed in an award-winning building by the architect Paulo David.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The contemporary art collection of Madeira was created in 1992 and for many years was housed in the Fortaleza de São Tiago, in Funchal. It originated in the Cidade do Funchal prizes of 1966 and 1967 and was expanded mainly in the 1990s, with works by Portuguese and Madeiran artists.
On 8 October 2015 the museum opened to the public in a new building in Calheta, the Centro das Artes – Casa das Mudas, designed by Paulo David and inaugurated in 2004 on the grounds of a former manor house. The building was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2005 and received the Alvar Aalto Medal in 2012.
The move allowed the exhibition area to grow from about 400 m² to about 1,800 m², with storage, technical areas, a documentation centre, an auditorium, a café, a restaurant and a shop. The collection includes names such as Lourdes Castro, Helena Almeida, Rui Chafes, Joana Vasconcelos and Pedro Cabrita Reis.
Highlights
- About 400 works of contemporary art from the 1960s to the present
- Selection of works by Lourdes Castro
- Building by Paulo David, nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award
- Exhibition organised in five themes: abstraction, non-figuration, figuration, portrait and landscape
- Location on a hill above Calheta, with café and restaurant
Permanent exhibition
- Coleção permanente – The museum's collection, with works from the 1960s to the present, is presented in five themes: abstraction, non-figuration, figuration, portrait and landscape.
- Founded
- 1992
- Operated by
- Direção Regional da Cultura da Região Autónoma da Madeira
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Young people aged 13 to 25 and seniors aged 65 and over |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 12 · Free admission from 0 to 12 years; from 13 to 25 years the ticket costs €5. |
| Seniors | €5From age 65. |
| Students & apprentices | –Students with a school identity card enter free. |
| Groups (7+ people) | €5 per personPrice per person, for groups of more than 6 people. |
| Families | €18At least one adult and one minor. |
Free admission: All Portuguese citizens are entitled to 52 free admissions per year; admission is also free for residents of Madeira, children up to age 12, students, teachers and other groups provided for in the tariff regulations.
Tariff set by the Regional Directorate for Culture, in force since 1 January 2026.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Entrance by ramp with handrail, fully wheelchair-accessible circulation, a lift with raised and Braille buttons, adapted toilets and reserved parking beside the building. There is information in Braille and visits or activities adapted for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The building has a café, restaurant, shop, library and auditorium.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | On request, the education service organises guided visits for school and private groups, and playful educational activities. There is also a virtual visit at mudasmuseuvirtual.com. |
