Porto International Design Biennale, a platform to raise critical thinking and innovative experience

Porto International Design Biennale will become a reality in 2019. This long term project was announced by Mayors of Porto, Rui Moreira and Matosinhos, Eduardo Pinheiro, May 27 at Rivoli.

The Biennale will take place in the last third of the year 2019, but it already started being prepared by the organizing committee, which includes the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira (Chair), Eduardo Pinheiro (Vice-Chair) and Eduardo Aires (White Studio), Emanuel Barbosa, José Bártolo (Design Curator and Researcher) and Maria Milano, reputed names of national and international design linked to the Faculty of Fine Arts of Porto and to ESAD, in Matosinhos.

According to Rui Moreira, "this is a long-term project that we have been working on, jointly with the municipality of Matosinhos and with ESAD-idea, which will be the headquarters of this biennial". 

Eduardo Pinheiro declared that "we want this to be a project at national and international levels".

Some of the Biennale 'events will take place at the Matadouro of Campanhã, the Design House of Matosinhos, the Palácio dos Correios of Porto, the House of Architecture - Portuguese Architecture Centre, the Municipal Gallery of Porto, the Municipal Gallery of Matosinhos, the Municipal Market of Matosinhos, Municipal Museums of Porto, Porto Municipal Theatre - Rivoli, Batalha Cinema in Porto, Quinta de Santiago Museum, Matosinhos Constantino Nery Municipal Theatre, Leixões Port Cruise Terminal and Matosinhos Sul Parking Lot.

The Biennale aim is to pursue a continuous investigation and dissemination cultural programme at both national and international levels, by promoting the participation and sharing of different design areas, involving designers, companies, the university and the civil society.

Porto International Design Biennale will be the platform to discuss bold ideas, to raise critical thinking and innovative experience.

The Biennale's first edition, in 2019 carries the theme "Post-Millennium Tension". The full programme will be launched during 2017 and the International Conference "Young Curators Workshop" will take place in October 2018. The Biennale Opening Week is schedule for September 2019. Later that year, in December, the finisage will be held and the theme for the 2021 Edition will be announced.

The events that will take place in the framework of the Biennial are Guest Country Program, Public Space Program, Design Schools Program, National Design Award, International Satellite Program, National Satellite Program, Young Curators and the International Workshop and Conference.