What Culturgest does

Culturgest is a private cultural foundation (Fundação Caixa Geral de Depósitos – Culturgest) based in Lisbon, Portugal, instituted in 2008 by Caixa Geral de Depósitos, S.A. (CGD), the largest Portuguese state-owned bank, with a €3.5 million initial endowment. It operates as a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center from two purpose-built venues in Lisbon (Rua Arco do Cego) and Porto (Avenida dos Aliados), employing 56 staff and offering a unified program spanning theatre, music, visual arts, cinema, performance, and talks/lectures. Core products include live theatrical productions, music concerts across contemporary, classical and experimental genres, visual arts exhibitions, cinema screenings and festival hosting, conference and debate programming, and management of the permanent Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The foundation also runs structured participation programs such as TRÊS TEMPOS (a youth music co-creation project for ages 15-18), Christmas workshops for children, school programs, and accessibility-focused initiatives.

Name

Culturgest

Legal name

Fundação Caixa Geral de Depósitos – Culturgest

Website

https://culturgest.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Culturgest is a private Portuguese cultural foundation, instituted by Caixa Geral de Depósitos in 2008, operating contemporary arts venues in Lisbon and Porto with ~56 staff. It presents theatre, music, visual arts, cinema, and talks, runs participation programs, and co-produces work with 30+ international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Center / Performing Arts

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary performing arts
• Cultural center programming
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Arts participation programs
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for theatrical performances, concerts, cinema screenings, and other events. Tickets are sold through the Ticketline platform and at physical box offices in Lisbon and Porto.
2. Institutional Funding from CGD: Annual funding from parent company Caixa Geral de Depósitos, S.A., which provides an annual endowment and the use of physical facilities. Culturgest is a private foundation instituted by CGD, the largest Portuguese state-owned bank.
3. Venue Hire: Spaces including the Emílio Rui Vilar Auditorium and Rooms 3, 4, 5 are available for rental for corporate events, private functions, and external performances.
4. Bookshop Sales: On-site bookshop offering publications related to exhibitions, performances, and the art collection.
5. Newsletter/Communication Services: Brochure mailing service for which address information is collected, though this appears to be a customer acquisition channel rather than direct revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Culturgest is a contemporary arts centre that presents curated programming across theatre, music, visual arts, cinema, performance, and talks/lectures, supported by participation programmes (workshops, TRÊS TEMPOS youth project, Christmas workshops), the Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, on-site bookshop, and venue hire of the Emílio Rui Vilar Auditorium and other rooms. Programming is produced or co-produced in-house and with international partners, with tickets sold via Ticketline and physical box offices.

Product overview

Culturgest is a cultural foundation operated by Caixa Geral de Depósitos that serves as a multi-disciplinary cultural center offering a unified program of contemporary arts. The core offering consists of Theatre Performances, Music Concerts, Visual Arts Exhibitions, Cinema Screenings, Talks and Lectures, and Performance Events. These are complemented by Participation Programs including workshops and community engagement activities. The institution also manages the Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and provides Venue Hire services. Notable products include the CAIXA Open Call for Young Artists (now in its 5th edition), the TRÊS TEMPOS youth music collaboration project, and Christmas Workshops for children. The cultural center operates from two locations: Culturgest Lisbon and Culturgest Porto.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Performances Live theatre productions presented at Culturgest venues in Lisbon and Porto, featuring national and international contemporary plays and performances (for example Marco Martins' A Colónia, Carolina Bianchi's TRILOGIA CADELA FORÇA, Hotel Europa's Portela 2037). Tickets typically range €16–€28.
• Music Concerts Musical performances across contemporary, classical, jazz, and experimental music genres, featuring artists such as Kali Malone, Lambchop, Marina Herlop, Éliane Radigue and Caterina Barbieri. Tickets typically range €16–€28.
• Visual Arts Exhibitions Contemporary visual arts exhibitions featuring works by national and international artists, including individual and collective shows, integrated with the Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
• Cinema Screenings Film screenings and cinema events, including support for major film festivals in Lisbon.
• Talks and Lectures Conferences, debates and lectures addressing contemporary cultural, social and scientific topics, delivered mostly free with pre-registration. Examples include Pierre Dardot on the commons and the 'De Aeroporto a Cidade' discussions.
• Performance Events Contemporary performance art combining theatre, dance, music, cinema and experimental artistic expressions, such as Mali Futur Live and Rimini Protokoll works.
• Christmas Workshops Holiday creative workshops for children and young people featuring visual arts, movement, words and sound activities led by invited artists. Priced at €60 for 4 mornings or 4 afternoons.
• TRÊS TEMPOS Collaborative music project for young people aged 15-18 developed in partnership with Teatro Viriato (Viseu) and Theatro Circo (Braga), led by guest artists such as Luca Argel. Free participation; registration opens 14 September 2026.
• CAIXA Open Call for Young Artists Annual competitive open call inviting young artists to submit proposals, with the 5th edition running in 2025-2026. Winners receive exhibition support and integration into Culturgest's programming.
• Venue Hire Rental of Culturgest's facilities, including the Emílio Rui Vilar Auditorium and Rooms 3, 4, 5, available for corporate events, private functions, and external performances.
• Bookshop On-site bookshop offering publications related to exhibitions, performances, and the Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, available at Culturgest's Lisbon and Porto locations.
• Art Collection of Caixa Geral de Depósitos Permanent collection of artworks managed by Culturgest with searchable online inventory, accessible to visitors at Culturgest Lisbon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual programming spanning theatre, music, visual arts, cinema and talks with 100+ events per season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Alkantara FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival programming partner hosting performances including Mali Futur Live, TRILOGIA CADELA FORÇA Chapter II, and related talks like Violência e Potência no Feminino at Culturgest venues.
• Quinta Alegre - Um Teatro em Cada BairrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Hotel Europa's Portela 2037 walking theatre project, bringing documentary theatre and civic participation to the airport territory.
• Festival d'AvignonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious French theatre festival co-producing Tiago Rodrigues' La Distance. Provides workshop facilities and residency at La FabricA du Festival d'Avignon.
• Teatro Nacional S. JoãocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational theatre co-producing Marco Martins' A Colónia alongside Culturgest, Arena Ensemble, and RTP.
• RTP - Rádio e Televisão de PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic broadcaster co-producing A Colónia and providing technical production support including filming, direction, and montage services.
• Teatro Viriato (Viseu) and Theatro Circo (Braga)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional theatre partners co-programming the TRÊS TEMPOS youth music project with Culturgest, involving young people from three cities.
• Hotel EuropacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre company developing documentary theatre projects exploring territory as political matter. Co-produced Portela 2037 and involved in 'From Airport to City' discussions.
• Formiga AtómicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre company co-producing Uma Mosca no Nosso Chá with Culturgest and touring to multiple venues.
• Arena EnsembleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre company co-producing A Colónia with Culturgest, Teatro Nacional S. João, and RTP.
• Rimini Apparat (Berlin) and Théâtre Vidy (Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational co-producers of Mali Futur Live with Kuma Sô Théâtre Bamako, presenting theatre at Alkantara Festival.
• KVS Brussels, Theater Utrecht, La Villette (Paris), and 20+ other international venuescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive international coproduction network for Carolina Bianchi's TRILOGIA CADELA FORÇA spanning Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other countries.
• Materiais DiversosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuratorial partner for 'Coreografias de Cooperação' professional meetings program on cultural cooperation in Southern Europe, in collaboration with Institut Français du Portugal.
• Institut Français du PortugalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench cultural institute partnering on 'Coreografias de Cooperação' program and 'Mais França' initiative supporting contemporary French creation in Portugal.
• Instituto de Sociologia da Universidade do PortominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Pierre Dardot encounter and talk, bringing research perspective to the commons and shared living practices discussion.
• Mensagem de LisboaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLisbon newspaper as media partner for 'De Aeroporto a Cidade' discussions, with journalist Frederico Raposo authoring airport site reports.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Barbican Centre: Large-scale London multi-disciplinary arts center presenting theatre, music, cinema, visual arts, and talks across multiple venues with co-production activity. Comparable in operating model (multi-disciplinary presenting foundation) though at materially larger scale than Culturgest.
• Sadler's Wells: London-based international dance and performing arts presenting house with co-production activity and touring partnerships. Comparable in operational model as a venue-presenter whose programming depends on international co-productions similar to Culturgest's model.
• Onassis Stegi: Athens-based cultural foundation presenting contemporary international performing arts and co-producing with global venues. Culturgest co-produces with Onassis Stegi (Tiago Rodrigues' La Distance); comparable as a presenter/co-producer of contemporary theatre with venue operations.
• La Villette: Paris venue-presenter combining performing arts programming, co-production activity, and venue operations for concerts, theatre, and dance. Culturgest co-produces with La Villette (e.g., Carolina Bianchi's TRILOGIA CADELA FORÇA), making this a direct co-production and operational peer.

Direct peers

• Fundação de Serralves: Porto-based contemporary arts foundation managing a museum, exhibitions, and cultural programming including the Serralves Film Festival. Comparable as a Portuguese foundation presenting contemporary visual and performing arts with a permanent collection and event programming.
• Festival d'Avignon: Prestigious annual performing arts festival in France producing and co-producing contemporary theatre works at international scale. Directly comparable as Culturgest is an active co-production partner (Tiago Rodrigues' La Distance) — share programming, talent, and touring economics.
• Casa da Música: Porto's flagship music venue presenting a broad contemporary and classical concert program alongside educational and participation projects. Comparable as a Portuguese cultural venue operator that combines ticketed performances, education, and venue hire under a single presenting entity.
• Centro Cultural de Belém: Major Lisbon cultural center presenting multi-disciplinary programming across multiple venues including auditoriums and exhibition spaces. Operates as a public-facing performing arts and visual arts venue with co-production activity, directly comparable to Culturgest's venue-based programming model.
• Teatro Nacional D. Maria II: Lisbon's national theatre presenting contemporary and classical productions with co-production activity. Directly comparable to Culturgest's theatre programming arm and co-production partnerships within the Portuguese cultural ecosystem.
• Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Portugal's largest privately-endowed cultural foundation operating from Lisbon with multi-disciplinary programming (music, theatre, visual arts), an art collection, and educational programs. Directly comparable to Culturgest as a contemporary arts presenting foundation in the same market with venue operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPPx22Dkbrq1EgNB7ZIO5Qg
• Facebookfacebook.com/culturgest/?ref=bookmarks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/culturgest---funda%C3%A7%C3%A3o-cgd
• Instagraminstagram.com/culturgest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Culturgest