Call for Artistic Director for the Performing Arts at Centro Cultural de Belém (m/f)

FCCB

The Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), a landmark institution inaugurated in 1993, 19 years after the 1974 April revolution and a testimony to a modern and democratic Portugal, is managed by a public foundation under private law whose aim is to promote culture, to develop creation and its diffusion in all its specificities, from classical music to improvised music, from theatre to dance, from opera to literature, from architecture to the visual arts.

The CCB is also a centre for congresses, conferences and professional meetings.

Since 2024, its capacity for intervention has been enriched with the creation of the Museum of Contemporary Art / CCB, which houses different prestigious collections in the field of modern and contemporary art and includes a centre for architecture with its own ongoing programme.

The CCB was conceived as part of Portugal’s first presidency of the European Community, as part of a modern and functional vision of culture and heritage.

The architectural project, developed by architects Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado, is integrated harmoniously into the Belém area landscape, alongside monuments such as the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém.

The CCB’s structure is made up of three interconnected modules that allow for fluid and efficient circulation between the different areas that generate a dialogue between the interior and exterior. The CCB is a testimony to the evolution of contemporary Portuguese architecture and one of Europe’s main cultural production centres. Construction will soon begin on Modules 4 and 5, planned in the initial project and intended for hotels, shops and services, but assigned to an independent operating concession.

 

Some indicators for 2024
Shows presented: 400
Number of spectators: 101,199
Exhibitions held at MAC/CCB: 15 exhibitions
Number of visitors to exhibitions: 588.643
Events held at the Congress Centre: 219
Number of participants: 90,913

 

The Performing Arts Department

The CCB develops its activity around a complementary and dynamic articulation between the performing arts and the visual arts.

The CCB’s cultural programme has always maintained a level of excellence by reaching out to different audiences throughout its 33 years. Because it is an instrument for promoting Portuguese artists, the presence of contemporary creators, regardless of their origin, is constant. This international dimension to the programme and its ability to respond to the most diverse cultural desires have given rise to what the CCB is today: a democratic space open to everyone.

The scarcity of auditoriums comparable to the CCB’s Grand Auditorium (1,400 seats), with its considerable stage size and orchestra pit, has encouraged the presentation of major theatre, dance and music shows, especially opera performances. Cinema can also be presented on a large screen. The existence of a Small Auditorium (350 seats) and a Black Box (80 seats) is a natural counterpoint for more intimate or experimental shows, where emerging artists can have a prominent place.

Fábrica das Artes, a creative centre for young audiences, is today an essential space for research in the performing arts, combining art and education.

The CCB’s large areas, particularly the gardens but also the halls and foyers of the congress centre, have made it possible to hold festivals and events that have quickly become enshrined in national cultural life. The contemporary debate, through conferences, seminars and workshops, is another added value of the wide range of activities that the programme offers daily.

 

Job description

• The Artistic Director for the Performing Arts (m/f) will be the public face of the CCB’s performing arts programme by bringing a strong curatorial vision to the preparation of the season’s programme, with a visionary and creative character, in a constant search for excellence and innovation.
• Reporting directly to the Foundation’s management, and in close collaboration with MAC/CCB, the Artistic Director will be responsible for ensuring the creative and financial sustainability of each season and always looking for development opportunities.
• The growth and diversification of audiences and the reputation and image of the CCB should be a main concern. The Director of the performing arts will therefore be responsible for:
• Defining and proposing an annual programme.
• Co-ordinate the team and the budget of the Director`s team, in conjunction with the CCB structure, which primarily includes the MAC/CCB Museum.
• Establishing contacts, collaboration and co-production projects, both nationally and internationally.
• Promote events and initiatives in the field of Performing Arts, but also in the field of education and mediation, implementing the cross-over between artistic genres that the CCB advocates.
• To develop strategies that promote the cultural diversity that the CCB seeks.

 

Candidate profile

• Undergraduate education, with advanced training being valued
• Management experience in cultural institutions, in which he or she has held positions involving team management
• Strategic vision to build an ambitious international programme
• Proven experience in national and international environments
• Good knowledge of the national and international arts milieu
• Communication and leadership skills
• Proficiency in Portuguese and foreign languages, particularly French and English

Application documents

• Strategic vision for 2026 – 2028
• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation letter and other relevant documentation

 

Updated timetable  (Updated on 28 July 2025)

• 6 June – Announcement of the call for applications
• 15 September – Deadline for submission of applications and supporting documents

October

• Phase 1: Administrative pre-selection and jury appointment
  Jury composition: António Pinto Ribeiro (Chair), Tamara Cubas and Tom Leick-Burns

October and November

• Phase 2: Interviews with the three shortlisted candidates, conducted by the Board of Directors, followed by final selection

November 2025 (first fortnight) – Announcement of the selected candidate

 

Other information

• Fixed-term contract on a commission basis, lasting 4 years
• Remuneration conditions do not include relocation allowances
• The documents must be sent in one single file in PDF format
• Applications, and any questions related to this process, should be sent to the following email address: drh@ccb.pt

In the subject line of the e-mail, please include ‘Application for Artistic Direction of the Performing Arts’.

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