A to Z

português | english

Arco logo

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

As soon as Ar.Co, in 1975, ceases to be a public limited liability company and becomes a cultural association, the Board of Directors’ report mentions the support granted by the Gulbenkian Foundation, along another grant received from the Direcção-Geral da Acção Cultural. In the same document, the Board declares that the school “could not survive” without these subsidies and expresses its gratitude towards those entities “who understood the interest of our Association’s cultural initiatives, namely in the present political context.” Reference to this crucial moment – in which either the survival or the simple closure of the recently founded school are at stake – is justified by the degree of importance of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s support all throughout Ar.Co’s existence. Almost a decade later, the rehabilitation project for the Quinta de S. Miguel in Almada would have been impossible without the generosity of this institituion. The Foundation not only is the first private entity to offer support to Ar.Co’s project, it is also the most dedicated and consistent. It supports exhibitions, specific school projects, internships and international exchanges, important renovation works of Ar.Co’s facilities and a great variety of initiatives aiming at the school’s development. In occasional cooperation efforts, Ar.Co welcomes national and international guests and trainees, who eventually exhibit their work at the Foundation or in its Centre for Modern Art. In 2006, Ar.Co welcomes at the Quinta de S. Miguel the Visual Arts Course of the Gulbenkian Creativity and Artistic Creation Programme, whose results are exhibited in loco at the event’s closing. The close ties between both institutions would become symbolically consecrated when Ar.Co is granted in 2007 the Gulbenkian Education Award.


  • Large capa simposio evora 1981

    International Stone Sculpture Symposium - Évora 81.

  • Large chissano no ar.co 1982 fcg

    Alberto Chissano. Stone sculpture internship at Ar.Co from 1981 to 1982, with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

  • Large almada 1xxxx

    Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada, after the reconstruction works.

  • Large schang hutter 1984 arco baixa

    Schang Hutter. Invited artist at Ar.Co, exhibiting his work at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1984.

  • Large arco 207xxx

    Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada, before the remodelling works. 1984.

  • Large a seminario int vidro almada 1991 10 visita da fcg

    "International Glass Seminar Ar.Co 91". Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada. Guided Tour for Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (center: Pedro Tamen, member of the foundation board).

  • Large ant nio j lio duarte. polaroid. no ar.co em 1992. fotografia para a exposi  o ar.co  rca no cam.

    First group of Ar.Co's students in the Royal College of Art "London Studio" program. Lisbon, 1992.

  • Large a simp alcoba a 87 a cidraes

    "International Ceramics Symposium / Alcobaça 87".

  • Large 1984 tgentille cat fcg 1983 ii

    Thomas Gentille. Guest teacher at Ar.Co followed by exhibition of his work at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1983.

  • Large  mg 7598

    Viusal Arts Course, Gulbenkian Program of Creativity and Artistic Creation. Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada, 2006.

  • Large scan 15

    Travelling exhibition "New Sculpture in Stone - An experiment". 1982. Invitation for Mosteiro da Batalha.