The art world returns to Lisbon with the celebration of ARCOlisboa 2019

ARCOlisboa 2019 will host the participation of 70 galleries from 17 countries, and as a novelty will feature the special participation of galleries from Africa, as well as a section dedicated to contemporary art publications.

As in previous years, the Fair will be organized around three areas: the General Programme, Opening and Projects. The main focus of the Fair, the General Programme, will consist of 52 galleries from 16 countries, some of which will participate for the first time, such as Vera Munro and Georg Kargl. In addition, others return to the fair, such as Krinzinger, Greengrassi, Pietro Sparta and Vermelho.

The Opening programme will once again focus on galleries with a history of a maximum of seven years with the aim of providing new information and aesthetic experiences. It will consist of 9 galleries selected by João Laia that include some of recent creation, such as Lehmann + Silva, from Porto, or Fran Reus, from Palma de Mallorca.The Projects section, again with the presence of Torreão Poente, will show 9 projects of individual artists presented at the fair by their galleries. Among them, Daniel García Andújar -Àngels Barcelona-; Gerold Miller, presented by Cassina Projects, and Nicolás Grospierre by Alarcón Criado-.

One of the most surprising novelties of this edition will be Africa in Focus, with a selection of galleries from this continent. Taking as a starting point the unique international position of Portugal at the crossroads between Africa and Europe, Africa in Focus will include 6 galleries from Angola, Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa with individual stands interspersed in the fair. This section, curated by Paula Nascimento, will be completed with a series of conferences focusing on the most modern contemporary art in Africa, with the participation of figures such as Raphael Chickwkwa and Azu Ngagbogu.

ARCOlisboa 2019 also incorporates a special section devoted to contemporary art publications. Organized by Arts Libris, it will have the participation of around 50 art publishers and will also include a series of lectures and debates focused on the current state of art publications.

The programme for debate and reflection on art and collecting will be completed with the celebration of MILLENNIUM ART TALKS, a collecting forum held with the collaboration of Fundação Millennium bcp. In addition, the Meeting of Museums, directed by Pedro Gadanho and Nicolas Bourriaud, will be held within the framework of the fair. Also, and coordinated by Filipa Oliveira, the sessions Em què estou a trabalhar?, which will take place in the Patio Nascente de la Cordoaria, will bring together international professionals to share their current and future projects.

SUPPORT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTORARCOlisboa 2019 has the support of the private sector and of important corporations and institutions through actions of sponsorship of different areas or initiatives present in the Fair.

This edition, in addition to the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, has the institutional collaboration of the Gobierno de la República Portuguesa; Direçâo Geral das Artes; EGEAC; Marinha; Turismo de Portugal; Turismo de Lisboa –ATL-, the patronage of the Fundaçâo EDP, as well as the Fundaçâo Millenium bcp; Navigator Art on Paper; RAR Immobiliária; ROM; Ruinart; illy, and Cervezas Alhambra, among others. Once again, it has the collaboration of Café Pessoa in the public programme.

For five days Lisbon becomes the capital of contemporary art with the celebration of the Fair and the visit to the best museums, institutions and collections in the city, which will present an exhibition programme showing works by Portuguese artists —either emerging artists or more recognized figures, such as Carlos Bunga , Pedro Cabrita Reis, Rui Chafes and Ângela Ferreira-, often combined with others from outstanding international artists. The participating institutions include the MAAT, Calouste Gulbenkian, Culturgest and the Museu Coleção Berardo.

ARCOlisboa 2019 offers new opening hours, better adapted to the pace and schedule of daily life in Lisbon: on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 May, the fair will be open from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 18 May, from noon to 9.00 p.m., and Sunday 19 May, from noon to 6 p.m.To favour access to a greater number of visitors, the general ticket price will be 15 Euro and 5 Euro for students.