What Materiais Diversos does

Materiais Diversos is an independent Portuguese non-profit performing arts organization founded in 2003, headquartered in Alcanena with operational sites in Minde and Lisbon. The organization functions as a curatorial platform and incubator for contemporary dance and performing arts, operating two main programme strands: MD Programa (curatorial programming including the biennial materiais diversos festival held each October since 2009, materiais adversos weekend, seminars, clubs, workshops, and commissions) and MD Acompanha (artist accompaniment through production, co-production, residencies, and touring support). It serves mid-career and emerging choreographers and performers, alongside regional audiences in the Minde and Alcanena territory and international audiences through European networks.

The organization is funded primarily by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Directorate-General for the Arts (Dgartes), supplemented by EU Creative Europe programme funding (Euphoric Youth 2026-2029), foundation grants (Fundação GDA, Calouste Gulbenkian), and co-production revenue from national and international partners. Notable partners include Grand Studio (Belgium, since 2016), Estúdios Victor Córdon, Institut français du Portugal, Cine-Teatro São Pedro, and European networks REDE, BeMyGuest, and DRIFT. Additional programmes include Matéria Viva (training, 2025), Matéria Bruta (territory-based research), Fios do Meio (regional artist support), and educational workshops with the Alcanena School Cluster. The festival received the EFFE Label in 2017 and 2019 from the European Festivals Association/European Commission.

The business model is non-commercial: there is no proprietary technology, product, or AI capability. The technology stack is limited to MailChimp (newsletter), Vimeo (video hosting), Google Analytics, and PTisp (hosting). Revenue mechanics rely on institutional grant cycles, project-based EU funding, and co-production arrangements with theatres and festivals. The organization is led by Artistic Director Cristina Planas Leitão (since April 2025) and Co-executive Director Sara Abrantes, with a team of approximately 11 employees. Geographic reach spans Portugal and 10+ European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia) through European project consortia, with planned expansion to additional European territories via DRIFT and Euphoric Youth.

Name

Materiais Diversos

Legal name

Materiais Diversos

Website

https://materiaisdiversos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Materiais Diversos is an independent Portuguese non-profit performing arts organization (founded 2003, ~11 employees) that curates contemporary dance through a biennial festival, artist accompaniment programmes, training initiatives, and European network partnerships, serving emerging and mid-career choreographers, regional audiences, and international cultural partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Curation and Production

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

University & Educational Venue Operations (Auditoriums, Campus Arenas) (MPAGALAI)

Keywords

• Contemporary performing arts
• Performing arts curation
• Artist residencies support
• Contemporary dance festival
• Arts capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Minde

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Government Funding: Materiais Diversos is an independent professional organization funded by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports / Directorate-General for the Arts (Dgartes). This represents the primary ongoing operational funding.
2. European Project Funding: Participation in European cooperation projects including DRIFT (Dance and Research In the Future Time, 2026-2029) and Euphoric Youth (2026-2029, EU Creative Europe programme), providing dedicated project funding and artistic development support.
3. Co-production Revenue: Revenue generated through co-production arrangements with national and international partner organizations (theatres, festivals, cultural institutions) for specific artistic productions.
4. Programming Partnerships: Collaborative programming arrangements with organizations including Institut français, Grand Studio, Estúdios Victor Córdon, Cine-Teatro São Pedro, and BONS SONS festival, generating earned revenue through shared programming initiatives.
5. Training Programme Revenue: Matéria Viva training and capacity-building programme developed in partnership with Alkantara, O Espaço do Tempo, and supported by Fundação GDA, generating revenue through educational programming.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Materiais Diversos is an independent performing arts organization that curates, produces, and disseminates contemporary dance and performing arts in Portugal. Its core offerings are a biennial festival (materiais diversos festival, every October since 2009), ongoing MD Programs (clubs, workshops, seminars, summer school, commissions), and MD Accompanies (artist residencies, co-production, touring and critical accompaniment), complemented by capacity-building programmes such as Matéria Viva and territorial research projects including Matéria Bruta and Fios do Meio.

Product overview

Materiais Diversos is an independent performing arts organization founded in 2003, offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the biennial materiais diversos festival (since 2009) and two main programme strands: MD Programs (curatorial practices through public presentations, clubs, workshops, summer school, seminars, and commissions) and MD Accompanies (artist support through production, residencies, and touring). Notable programmes include Matéria Viva (training), Matéria Bruta (territory-based research), Fios do Meio (regional artist support), and specific Accompanied Artist projects for Piny, Gaya de Medeiros, and Marga Alfeirão. The organization also participates in European networks including BeMyGuest and DRIFT. No technology product, API, or AI capabilities are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MD Programa: Curatorial strand encompassing public presentations, publications, gatherings, mediation projects, training and research initiatives.
• MD Acompanha
• materiais adversos weekend
• Matéria Bruta
• Matéria Viva
• FUTURΛ Seminar
• In Practice Summer School
• Flower Club
• Audience Club
• RadioAtiva
• Invisible Matter
• Fios do Meio

Products and services

• materiais diversos festival Biennial festival dedicated to contemporary dance and performing arts, held each October in Minde and Alcanena since 2009. Features international and national artists through performances, installations, and public encounters. Awarded the EFFE Label in 2017 and 2019 by the European Festivals Association.
• materials adversos weekend Annual October format dedicated to artistic research, sharing of processes, and creation of temporary communities of practice and reflection, held between biennial festival editions. Supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and welcomes international programmers during the FUTURΛ seminar.
• MD Accompanies Artist support programme strand providing production, co-production, residencies, touring support and critical accompaniment for performers and creators. Creates conditions for research, experimentation and risk-taking in sustainable processes, including support for accompanied artists such as Piny (2026-2028), Gaya de Medeiros (2026-2029) and Marga Alfeirão (2026-2028).
• Matéria Viva Training and capacity-building programme for performer-creators and emerging cultural practitioners. Developed in partnership with Alkantara and O Espaço do Tempo, with Fundação GDA support. Eight sessions combining five online and three in-person meetings covering project development, funding applications, communication, production, and financial management. The 2026 cohort includes 12 named emerging artists.
• Matéria Bruta Two-year transdisciplinary research project rooted in Minde and Alcanena territory. Develops processes of research, critical thinking and artistic positioning grounded in local material and immaterial specificities, ecosystems and cultural heritage.
• Fios do Meio Creation support programme for artists born, residing or professionally active in Santarém and Leiria districts. Provides artistic, dramaturgical, production and administrative support to emerging and established artists in performing arts.
• FUTURΛ Seminar Annual seminar dedicated to critical reflection on curatorship and artistic direction in performing arts. From an intersectional feminist perspective, brings together professionals to explore curatorial methodologies, cultural mediation and artistic leadership.
• In Practice Summer School Advanced training programme co-organised with the Centre for Theatre Studies (FLUL), held annually in Minde and Alcanena. Week-long intensive bringing artists, researchers and participants together with invited artist pairs sharing methodologies and practice.
• Audience Club Annual space for encounter and reflection for Alcanena region residents deepening their relationship with performing arts, accompanying performances at Cine-Teatro São Pedro with discussions and open sharings. Runs January to June.
• Flower Club Annual artistic club led by choreographer and floral designer Filipe Pereira, six sessions between February-June 2026 combining dance practice with collective floral arrangement inspired by natural cycles and calendar moments.
• Educational Workshops (Invisible Matter / RadioAtiva) School-based workshops in collaboration with Alcanena School Cluster and Cine-Teatro São Pedro, targeting 5th-7th grade students. Includes Invisible Matter (5th grade, designed by Rebecca Mateus, exploring natural elements through body, movement and educational games) and RadioAtiva (7th year students, school radio workshop led by Nuno Preto).
• Commissions, Crossings & Occupations Programming strand creating contexts for collaboration with other organisations through shared programmes, site-responsive interventions and temporary occupations. Includes MD ❦ partnerships with Institut français, Cine-Teatro São Pedro, Grand Studio, Estúdios Victor Córdon, and BONS SONS festival.
• European Networks & Projects Participation Participation in international networks including BeMyGuest (annual co-production network with 14 European partners), DRIFT (European research and artistic development for mid-career choreographic artists), Euphoric Youth (EU Creative Europe youth empowerment across nine countries), Periferias Centrais, and REDE (contemporary dance association). Provides European circulation reach for accompanied artists.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AlkantaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlkantara (Lisbon) partners with Materiais Diversos on Matéria Viva training programme and Alkantara Festival hosting FUTURΛ seminar gatherings. Key partner for contemporary performing arts programming in Lisbon.
• O Espaço do TempocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerO Espaço do Tempo (Montemor-o-Novo) co-develops Matéria Viva programme and serves as residency host. Part of three-entity partnership with Alkantara and Materiais Diversos for training and capacity-building.
• Fundação GDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação GDA provides financial support for Matéria Viva programme, supporting training and capacity-building for emerging performing arts practitioners.
• Grand StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2016 dedicated to artistic residency exchange, fostering circulation and encounters between artists based in Belgium and Portugal. MD ❦ Grand Studio programming strand.
• Estúdios Victor CórdoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisbon-based residency provider offering artists accompanied by Materiais Diversos conditions for research, creation, and project development. MD ❦ Estúdios Victor Córdon programming strand.
• Cine-Teatro São PedrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlcanena venue partnership creating synergies between programming, presenting artistic proposals and reinforcing commitment to the territory. MD ❦ Cine-Teatro São Pedro programming strand.
• BONS SONS FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing programming partnership bringing together music and performing arts through shared programming. Materiais Diversos presents artist works at BONS SONS festival annually.
• Institut français du PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural cooperation between France, Spain and Portugal. MD ❦ Institut français dedicated programming strand for professional gatherings and artistic exchange.
• REDE – Associação para a Dança ContemporâneacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network association for contemporary dance organizations. Materiais Diversos is part of REDE contributing to national performing arts infrastructure.
• BeMyGuest NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network for emerging practices. Annual co-production network including 14 partner organizations across Europe (Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, France, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, Portugal). Co-produced artists include Marga Alfeirão.
• DRIFT ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project (2026-2029) dedicated to research, support and artistic development for mid-career choreographic artists. Consortium includes Théâtre de Liège, Maison de la Danse, Onassis Stegi, BIT Teatergarasjen, HAU/Tanz im August, Mercat de les Flors, Short Theatre, Al Badil, Ukrainian Dance Platform. Piny selected as Wave 1 artist.
• Euphoric Youth ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year EU Creative Europe project (2026-2029) empowering teenagers across nine countries to become curators. Led by Rosendal Internasjonale Teater (Norway) with 10 partner organizations including Festival d'Avignon, Trafó, Tanzfabrik Berlin, SPRING Festival, NTGent, and others.
• Centre for Theatre Studies (FLUL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organiser of In Practice Summer School programme, creating space for advanced training linking artistic and academic contexts.
• Agrupamento de Escolas de AlcanenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool cluster partnership for annual workshops (5th and 7th grade) integrating contemporary artistic practices with educational curricula.
• Neon LobsterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman-based organization collaborating with Materiais Diversos on Marga Alfeirão accompaniment (2026-2028) for production KITADA.
• DDD – Festival Dias da DançacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Piny's a.travessa.da (premiere) and ONYX. National festival providing presentation platform and production support.
• Charleroi DanseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian choreographic centre co-producing Piny's a.travessa.da. Part of international production network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DDD Festival Dias da Dança: Portuguese national dance festival co-producing accompanied artists with Materiais Diversos (Piny's a.travessa.da). Directly comparable as a presenting platform and co-production partner within the Portuguese contemporary dance ecosystem.
• Maison de la Danse: Lyon-based dance venue and DRIFT consortium member. Comparable as a publicly funded dance presenting/producing organization operating at larger scale in France with similar curatorial and artist development mandate.
• Mercat de les Flors: Barcelona dance venue and DRIFT consortium member. Comparable as a publicly funded venue producing and presenting contemporary dance and performing arts, with similar curatorial ambition and EU project participation.
• Charleroi Danse: Belgian choreographic centre co-producing Piny's work with Materiais Diversos and a member of the DRIFT consortium. Comparable as a publicly funded choreographic centre producing and touring contemporary dance internationally.
• Grand Studio: Brussels-based residency and performing arts organization in MD ❦ Grand Studio partnership since 2016. Comparable as a residency provider enabling cross-border artistic exchange for choreographers, with a similar public-funding model.
• O Espaço do Tempo: Portuguese residency and artistic research centre in Montemor-o-Novo, partner in Matéria Viva with Materiais Diversos. Comparable as a residency-providing, artist-support organization operating in the contemporary performing arts ecosystem in Portugal.
• Alkantara: Portuguese performing arts organization based in Lisbon, co-developer of the Matéria Viva training programme with Materiais Diversos. Comparable as a contemporary dance/performing arts curator-producer with overlapping artist support mandate and shared EU network participation.

Broad incumbents

• Onassis Stegi: Athens-based major cultural foundation and DRIFT consortium member. Comparable as a large-scale performing arts presenter with significant international artist development programmes, but operating at materially larger scale and budget than Materiais Diversos.
• HAU Hebbel am Ufer / Tanz im August: Berlin-based venue and festival presenting contemporary dance and performance, DRIFT consortium member. Comparable as a publicly funded dance/performance presenter producing internationally touring work, though at significantly larger scale and with broader programming remit.

Regional players

• BONS SONS Festival: Portuguese music and performing arts festival with long-standing MD programming partnership. Comparable as a Portuguese cultural festival operator co-presenting contemporary performing arts work, though primarily music-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MateriaisDiversos
• Facebookfacebook.com/materiaisdiversos.associacaocultural
• Instagraminstagram.com/materiaisdiversos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/materiais-diversos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Materiais Diversos