The Place for Arts-Driven Blue Innovation

The new 'S+T+ARTS' Centre in Viana do Castelo is established through ‘creative reuse’ of the Old Municipal Slaughterhouse. The necessary renovations are based on the participatory design of a 'renovation and construction concept’ for the disused building involving at least 40 local stakeholders.

This approach aims to promote urban requalification and social inclusion in the surrounding area, bringing together history, heritage and urban renewal. A key part of the renovation design is also the introduction of innovative energy-efficiency and circular solutions – including new solutions existing only at a prototype stage.

The renovations are carried out following an open public tender for a construction company to implement the agreed design. In parallel, a ‘centre strategic and activity plan’ is co-created by the local authority and local stakeholders, feeding into the testing of the facilities and different intended uses of the building.

The Viana S+T+ARTS Centre will become a space for co-creation and participatory activities in a variety of artistic, scientific and technological fields. This includes an eco-startup incubator, educational activities, scientific demonstrations and creative applications of emerging technologies, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence. It also includes artistic experiences, exhibitions and residencies for different types of professional.

Through these activities and the provision of open spaces for artistic, scientific and technological interaction, the centre aims to make a valuable contribution to the transformation of Viana do Castelo into a new blue innovation hub. A key ultimate objective is to significantly improve the coastal city's attractiveness to young talents, further feeding into positive cycles of local urban development.