Culture

The Palace of the Arts of the Youth Foundation in Porto hosts the XII edition of the Painting Biennial of the Atlantic Zone till 30 January. This initiative is a stimulus for artistic creation, whilst enabling the cultural exchange and the awareness of artists from the Peninsular north-western.

2018 is the consolidation year of the Porto Municipal Theatre (TMP) affirmed mission to support local companies and artists, co-production and circulation of international works. This aspiration is accomplished with the January/July Programming for 2018, which includes 76 shows, 15 national premieres, and 14 artistic residencies working within the two centres of the TMP, namely at the Theatre Rivoli and Theatre Campo Alegre.

Starting Saturday, 12 January and till 20 January, the parishes of Aldoar, Foz do Douro and Nevogilde organise the "IV Festival de Janeiras" [IV Singing of the Kings Festival]. This event takes place at the Church of S. João Baptista da Foz do Douro, at the Main Church of S. Martinho de Aldoar and at the Church of Cristo Rei, where different choirs and groups will meet to sing the kings and celebrate the New Year, starting at 9.30 pm.

Saturdays are stage reading days for kids at the municipal libraries. The sessions start at 11 am and 3.30 pm. At Almeida Garrett Municipal Library, the storytelling time on 13 January is devoted to the work of the Italian writer Guido Visconti "The Scarecrow Who Wanted a Hug". All that Barnaby the Scarecrow longs for is to climb the hill and give Gwendoline a hug. Will Barnaby ever achieve his heart's desire?

The short film "Russa", directed by João Salaviza and Ricardo Alves Jr., was screened within the 68th edition of Berlinale Shorts, the official short film competition that takes place during the Berlin International Film Festival.

This coming Saturday, 13th January the 2018 Season of Bombarda Openings kicks-off with the first Cycle of parallel openings at this arts district. With a total of six cycles of parallel openings, the most artsy quarter in the city of Porto begins the season dedicated to contemporary art.

The Municipal Theatre of Porto announces programming for the 2018 season, on 10 January, starting at 6.30 pm at Theatre Campo Alegre. This event is free and open to the public. The detailed programming for the first half of 2018 will bring new shows for all interests.

Theatre Company "mala voadora" sets off the first performance of an improvisational theatre that is sponsored by Porto City Hall through the Criatório programme. This bold and innovative project will last for the entire year 2018 and comprises improv or impro theatre in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted but rather created spontaneously by the performers.

Coliseu Porto welcomes in 2018 with the New Year Concert, on 6 January, starting at 9.30 pm. This event features music by composers Strauss, Dvorák, Kilar and Tchaikovsky played by Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and conducted by Polish conductor Sebastian Perlowski, reputed as maestro of opera excellence in Kraków Opera in the past five years.

The first exhibition of 2018 at the National Press Museum is devoted to freedom of speech and will be on show as of Saturday, 6 January, starting at 4 pm. The opening marks the start of the celebrations of the 20th PortoCartoon-World Festival, referring one of the leading figures of the humour contest, French cartoonist Georges Wolinski, murdered during a terrorist attack on 7 January 2015 at the satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" newsroom.