Serralves Foundation

What Serralves Foundation does

Fundação de Serralves (Serralves Foundation) is a private-law non-profit entity of public utility (NIPC 502266643) headquartered in Porto, Portugal, that operates one of the country's most consolidated cultural complexes. The Foundation runs an integrated campus comprising the Á¡lvaro Siza-designed Museu de Arte Contemporânea (with the Á¡lvaro Siza wing), the Art Déco Casa de Serralves villa, the 18-hectare Parque de Serralves with its Treetop Walk canopy, the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira, an auditorium, restaurant, tea house, and shop. Its 4,300+ work Serralves Collection (roughly 1,700 owned and 2,600 on long-term deposit, supplemented by ~5,000 artists' books and editions) is the substantive core of its programming, with signature holdings such as the 85-work Joan Miró collection owned by the Portuguese State.

The Foundation's programming is event-driven and exhibition-led, rotating marquee shows (Jenny Holzer, Frank Gehry, Alice Neel, Lee Ufan, Anri Sala, Miguel Gomes, Vexation of Spirit. The Duerckheim Collection x Serralves, SAGG Napoli, Joan Miró) alongside permanent attractions (Serralves em Luz light installations, Jazz no Parque festival, cinema series, family and educational programming). The Serviço Educativo (Educational Service) delivers curricular-aligned programming for schools, underwritten by mecenas Sonae under the Despertador programme for 2025/2026-2026/2027. Distribution extends beyond the campus via the national Itinerâncias (Touring Exhibitions Programme) to municipalities such as Marco de Canaveses, Melgaço, and Vagos, plus the Porto Airport Arrivals Hall and prior international presentations in Padua and Naples; global digital reach is provided by Google Arts & Culture (Gigapixel imaging, Street View) as part of the "What is Contemporary Art?" initiative.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: combined campus admission (€24 standard / €20 residents), partial park tickets (€15 / €12), cinema tickets (€3), Friends of Serralves memberships, on-site retail (loja.serralves.pt), corporate and private event hosting, restaurant concessions (operated by Ibersol under executive chef Fernando Santos), group guided visits, and institutional patronage (Sonae, BPI, Portuguese Republic, DGPC, Fundação Leal Rios, Ottima Art Works). Ticketing runs through the Byblueticket platform and payment processing is handled by Unicre; the website is developed by Bondhabits. The Foundation is governed by a curatorial leadership team including Museum Director Suzanne Cotter, Director of Architecture António Choupina, and Director of the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira António Preto.

Name

Serralves Foundation

Legal name

Fundação de Serralves

Website

https://serralves.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fundação de Serralves is a Porto-based non-profit foundation operating an Á¡lvaro Siza-designed contemporary art museum, Art Déco villa, 18-hectare park, and cinema house, serving cultural tourists, Portuguese residents, school groups, members, and corporate clients through ticketed exhibitions, touring programmes, educational services, retail, restaurant concessions, and institutional patronage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum & Cultural Institution

NAICS

Museums (712110), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary art museum
• Cultural foundation
• Art exhibitions
• Heritage park
• Educational programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto Carreiro

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales / Admission Fees: Combined Bilhete Serralves (24€ / 20€ residents) and partial Park-only ticket (15€ / 12€ residents); free first Sunday monthly, free for under-12s, Friends, 60%+ disability and BPI cardholders; discounts of 50% for ages 12-17, students up to master's (max 25), 65+; 20% for Porto-Card and Cartão Jovem.
2. Cinema / Event Ticketing: Ticketed cinema sessions (e.g., Modos de Rever, Um Filme Falado programmes) at 3€ standard with 50% discount for Friends, under-18s, students, 65+.
3. Membership (Amigos de Serralves): Annual membership subscription program providing benefits including free admission, discounts on tickets and shop, and exclusive invitations aligned with the Foundation's mission.
4. Restaurant and Food Services: Restaurant (Links Serralves buffet lunch, weekend brunch, private dinners), Casa de Chá, and Bar Auditório operated by Ibersol; children's menu (ages 4-9); beverages sold separately.
5. Retail / Shop and Online Store: Physical loja.serralves.pt and on-site Serralves Shop selling author collections, contemporary author jewelry, international design brands and emerging Portuguese artists and designers; bibliographic Livraria do Museu.
6. Corporate and Private Event Hosting: Restaurant available for private parties and corporate events on reservation; commercial services (Serviços Comerciais) listed on site.
7. Patronage, Sponsorship and Public Co-Financing: Mecenato (patronage) from corporate mecenas such as Sonae for the Educational Service; additional mecenas and patrocinadores; institutional apoio from Portuguese Republic (co-financing).
8. Collection Donations: Serralves Collection is augmented through artist and private donations (e.g., Joan Miró collection of 85 works owned by Portuguese State, Jorge Pinheiro's Babel donated 2018 with Ottima Art Works, Álvaro Siza donated Untitled 2021, Xana works donated by Fernando Figueiredo dos Santos 2000).
9. Guided Group Visits: Group guided visits available with dedicated pricing ('Tarifário próprio') and advance booking required.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fundação de Serralves operates a single cultural campus in Porto that combines a contemporary art museum (designed by Álvaro Siza), Casa de Serralves (Art Déco villa), the 18-hectare Parque de Serralves (with Treetop Walk), and the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira. The Foundation delivers temporary exhibitions of international contemporary art, a 4,300+ work Collection, a national Touring Exhibitions Programme, an Educational Service (Serviço Educativo), a cinema programme, jazz and light festivals (Serralves em Luz, Jazz no Parque), and on-site hospitality including Restaurante Links Serralves, Casa de Chá, Bar Auditório, and the Serralves Shop. Revenue is generated from admissions, membership subscriptions, retail, restaurant, group and corporate events, patronage, and public co-financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves: Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art — the contemporary art museum operated by the Foundation in Porto.
• Parque de Serralves
• Casa de Serralves
• Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira

Products and services

• Combined Bilhete Serralves admission (all-spaces) Single combined admission ticket granting access to all Foundation spaces — the Contemporary Art Museum, Ala Álvaro Siza, Parque de Serralves (including Treetop Walk), Casa de Serralves, and Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira — for individual visitors and tourists.
• Parque de Serralves / Treetop Walk ticket (Park-only) Partial Park-only ticket (Só Parque) granting access to the 18-hectade Parque de Serralves including the Treetop Walk suspended canopy walkway, Parterres, 19th-century Arboretum, Roseiral, Lake, Mata, Prado, Ponds, Maria Nordman Garden, Aromatic Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Greenhouses.
• Serralves Cinema Programme (Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira) Ticketed cinema sessions and curatorial programmes (Modos de Rever, Um Filme Falado) screening at the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira, dedicated to the seventh art and the legacy of Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira, with a permanent exhibition and Portuguese Cinema programme.
• Amigos de Serralves Membership Annual recurring membership subscription for supporters, providing free admission, discounts on tickets and shop products, cinema session discounts, and exclusive invitations to programme previews and events aligned with the Foundation's mission.
• Restaurante Links Serralves and Casa de Chá / Bar Auditório (Ibersol gastronomy programme) On-site hospitality programme operated by Ibersol: Restaurante Links Serralves (80 indoor + 80 terrace seats) with buffet lunch, weekend brunch, and children's menu; Casa de Chá tea house and Bar Auditório; private dinners and corporate event hosting by reservation.
• Loja Serralves (Shop and Online Store) Physical on-site Serralves Shop and online store (loja.serralves.pt) selling author collections, contemporary author jewellery, international design brands, and emerging Portuguese artists and designers, plus the bibliographic Livraria do Museu (Museum bookshop).
• Serviço Educativo (Educational Service) — Despertador 2025/2027 programme Educational Service (Serviço Educativo) for the Portuguese school community covering Pré-escolar through Secundário e Profissional, including guided visits, thematic visits, family workshops, and the 'Despertador' programme (2025/2027) aligned with ENEA and ENEC national education strategies. Underwritten by Mecenas Sonae.
• Group Guided Visits Group guided visits across the Serralves campus with custom pricing (Tarifário próprio) and advance booking required, for school groups, corporate groups, tourism operators, and community organisations.
• Corporate and Private Event Hosting Corporate and private event hosting services (Serviços Comerciais) at the Serralves campus, including private dinners at Restaurante Links Serralves, group bookings, and bespoke cultural hospitality.
• Touring Exhibitions Programme (Programa de Itinerâncias) National Touring Exhibitions Programme (Programa de Itinerâncias) extending Serralves Collection works to Portuguese municipalities through partnerships with Founding Municipal Councils and other institutions, including touring shows such as Álvaro Siza – Through the Looking-Glass (Marco de Canaveses), Biodiversidade Urbana (Melgaço, Vagos), and Jorge Pinheiro's Babel (Porto Airport).

Quantifiable outcome

• 240,048 visitors during Joan Miró: Materialidade e Metamorfose exhibition at Casa de Serralves (Oct 2016 – Jun 2017)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core co-marketing partner, operational vendor, core operational partner, core ticketing vendor, flagship global digital partner, collection partner, flagship government partner, touring exhibition partner, collection supporter, flagship architect and curatorial collaborator and operational partner.

• BPI (Banco BPI)core co-marketing partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBPI cardholders receive free entry to Serralves upon presentation of the BPI card and identification. The partnership extends the Foundation's reach to BPI's banking customer base and provides an affinity benefit for BPI clients.
• Unicre – Instituição Financeira de Crédito, S.A.operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationUnicre (NIPC 500292841) handles payment processing for credit card transactions on the Serralves website; credit card data is not retained by Serralves but by Unicre under a regulated financial services arrangement.
• Ibersolcore operational partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIbersol operates the Restaurant (Links Serralves), Casa de Chá (Tea House), and Bar Auditório under executive chef Fernando Santos; buffet lunch with 3 hot dishes plus salads and desserts; weekend brunch; private dinners and corporate events; reservations via [email protected] / 93 922 35 35.
• Byblueticketcore ticketing vendorTechnology or IntegrationByblueticket (serralves.byblueticket.pt) is the third-party online ticketing platform used by Serralves for selling combined admission, cinema sessions, and special programme tickets (e.g., Modos de Rever, Um Filme Falado events).
• Google Arts & Culture (Google)flagship global digital partnerTechnology or IntegrationSerralves is one of the participants in Google's 'What is Contemporary Art?' initiative (2017) alongside 180+ cultural institutions from 27 countries, including Brazil's Bienal de São Paulo, UAE's Barjeel Art Foundation, and MoMA. The platform hosts Gigapixel high-resolution imagery of the Serralves Collection and Street View virtual tours of the Foundation's spaces.
• Fundação Leal Rioscollection partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Leal Rios Collection is partially held on long-term deposit at the Serralves Collection; works are exhibited as 'Auto dos Anfitriões – Obras da Coleção da Fundação Leal Rios na Coleção de Serralves' (22 Jan – 28 Jun 2026 at the Museum).
• Direção-Geral do Património Cultural (DGPC) / Portuguese Ministry of Cultureflagship government partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGPC (Portuguese Ministry of Culture) co-organised the Joan Miró: Materialidade e Metamorfose exhibition at Palácio Nacional da Ajuda (8 Sep 2017 – 13 Feb 2018) following its record-breaking run at Casa de Serralves (240,048 visitors). The exhibition featured 85 works from the Joan Miró collection owned by the Portuguese State; curatorial partner Robert Lubar Messeri; architectural design by Álvaro Siza Vieira.
• Município de Marco de Canavesestouring exhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarco de Canaveses hosts the touring exhibition 'Álvaro Siza – Through the Looking-Glass' at Museu Carmen Miranda (Sala de Exposições Temporárias) from 31 Mar – 06 Oct 2026, curated by Director of Architecture António Choupina, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Church of Santa Maria.
• Município de Vagostouring exhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicípio de Vagos hosts the touring photographic exhibition 'Biodiversidade Urbana de Vagos' by Jorge Sarmento (curated by Marta Tavares) at Quinta do Ega, Vagos, from 14 Jul – 11 Oct 2026, with free admission, as part of the Serralves Touring Exhibitions Programme.
• Município de Melgaçotouring exhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicípio de Melgaço hosts the touring exhibition 'Biodiversidade Urbana de Melgaço' (photographer Jorge Sarmento; curated by Marta Tavares) at Jardim da Alameda Inês Negra, Melgaço, from 10 Mar – 12 Jul 2026, with free admission, as part of the Serralves Touring Exhibitions Programme.
• Aeroporto do Porto (ANA Aeroportos)touring exhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPorto Airport Arrivals Hall (Hall de Chegadas) hosts the touring exhibition 'Jorge Pinheiro. Babel' from 28 Feb 2026 – 28 Feb 2027, featuring the sculpture Babel (2010/2017) donated by the artist in 2018 with the support of Ottima Art Works, as part of the Serralves Collection Touring Exhibition Programme.
• Ottima Art Workscollection supporterStrategic or Co-development PartnerOttima Art Works supported Jorge Pinheiro's donation of the sculpture 'Babel' to the Serralves Collection in 2018.
• Álvaro Siza Vieiraflagship architect and curatorial collaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira designed the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ala Álvaro Siza wing, and the architectural design of the Joan Miró: Materialidade e Metamorfose exhibition (2017) and Casa de Serralves Joan Miró presentations. Siza's drawings and sculptures are also represented in the Serralves Collection.
• Bondhabitsoperational vendorTechnology or IntegrationBondhabits is the digital marketing and web development agency that developed serralves.pt and provides digital marketing consulting and mobile app development services to the Foundation.
• STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto)operational partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTCP bus lines 201, 207, 502, and 504 serve Serralves (paragem Serralves, Serralves Museu, Pinhais da Foz, João R. Cabrilho), providing public transit access from Aliados, Casa da Música, Boavista, Campanhã, Bolhão, Viso, and Foz do Porto.
• Metro do Portooperational partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro do Porto lines A, B, C, E, and F connect to Casa da Música (with D-line transfer at Trindade); Casa da Música metro station provides onward bus transfers to Serralves.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fondation Beyeler: Swiss private art foundation near Basel operating a Renzo Piano-designed museum with a Berower Park landscape. Comparable private-foundation-of-public-utility structure, signature architecture, and museum-park campus model.
• Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: Amsterdam's museum of modern and contemporary art and design. Comparable European municipal-scale contemporary art museum with strong temporary exhibition programming and design-object retail (comparable to Loja Serralves).
• MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology: Lisbon-based contemporary museum spanning art, architecture, and technology on the Tagus riverfront. Directly comparable multi-disciplinary cultural programming targeting similar Portuguese and international contemporary-art audiences.
• Kröller-Müller Museum: Dutch museum of modern and contemporary art (Van Gogh, Mondrian, contemporary holdings) located in Hoge Veluwe National Park. Closely comparable museum-inside-park campus model with sculpture garden and landscape-driven visitor experience.
• Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Portugal's flagship private foundation of public utility operating the Centro de Arte Moderna (Modern Art Centre) and a major cultural campus in Lisbon. Closest direct peer: same foundation structure, contemporary/modern art focus, and Iberian museum programming.
• Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA): Barcelona's contemporary art museum focused on post-1945 art. Comparable European city-scale contemporary art museum with strong temporary-exhibition cycle and design-conscious programming.
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Denmark's museum of modern and contemporary art set in a sculpture park landscape. Closest international analogue to Serralves' museum-park multi-disciplinary campus model with integrated nature, architecture, and contemporary art programming.

Broad incumbents

• Centre Pompidou: Paris-based national modern and contemporary art centre. Comparable European contemporary art flagship with multi-disciplinary programming (museum, cinema, library) and strong international touring exhibition activity.
• Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Spain's national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art in Madrid. Comparable Iberian national-scale contemporary art institution with strong temporary exhibition programming and public-utility mandate.
• Tate Modern: London's flagship contemporary and modern art museum. Comparable scale of collection, blockbuster-exhibition programming, and global cultural tourism draw; provides benchmark for international visitor economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Serralves Foundation