ON (Portugal)
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| ON (Portugal) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | ON |
| Native name | ON |
| Formation | 2015 |
| Type | Non-profit cultural association |
| Headquarters | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Region served | Portugal; Iberian Peninsula; Lusophone countries |
| Language | Portuguese; English |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | João Silva |
ON (Portugal) is a Portuguese cultural and civic association founded in 2015 that operates at the intersection of urban innovation, cultural production, and civic engagement. Based in Lisbon, ON engages with municipal bodies, cultural institutions, universities, and international networks to promote creative placemaking, digital culture, and community-driven regeneration. Through festivals, research partnerships, and public programs, ON positions itself within networks linking Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Cambridge, Barcelona, Paris, and Lusophone capitals such as Luanda and Maputo.
History
ON emerged from collaborations between artists associated with MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology), civic activists connected to CML (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa), and researchers from Universidade de Lisboa and Universidade do Porto. Early activities intersected with initiatives at Belém Cultural Center, Serralves Museum, and the European Cultural Foundation network, drawing on precedents set by projects at ZDB and collectives linked to Arsenal da Marinha. The association developed programs during the European Capitals of Culture cycle influenced by agendas promoted at European Commission forums and by policy frameworks from UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Over time ON formed links with artistic laboratories such as Residência La Tabacalera and academic units at ISCTE and Nova University Lisbon.
Mission and Activities
ON’s stated mission combines cultural activation, urban research, and technological experimentation. It runs public programs alongside institutions like MAAT and partners with media outlets such as Público and RTP to disseminate work. Activities include curatorial projects in collaboration with venues like Galeria Zé dos Bois, experimental residencies modeled on practices at Hangar (Lisbon) and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and policy-oriented convenings inspired by events at Web Summit and convenings of the European Cultural Capitals Network. ON also produces collaborative research with laboratories at Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa and design studios influenced by the pedagogy of Royal College of Art exchanges.
Organizational Structure
The association is governed by a board composed of cultural producers, urban planners, and academics with ties to Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, Instituto Superior Técnico, and Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa. Operational teams coordinate curatorial, research, and outreach units, collaborating with municipal departments such as offices previously aligned with Porto Vivo and heritage actors like Direção-Geral do Património Cultural. ON’s membership model follows templates used by British Council partner organizations and civic networks akin to Culture Action Europe, while staging advisory boards that have included figures associated with Serralves Foundation and international curators from institutions such as Tate Modern and Centre Pompidou.
Funding and Partnerships
Funding has combined municipal grants from entities similar to Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, project support from foundations like Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and competitive awards administered by bodies comparable to Creative Europe. ON secures sponsorships and in-kind partnerships with cultural venues including Teatro Nacional D. Maria II and private supporters modeled on patrons of Fundação Oriente. Research collaborations have been financed through calls from organizations such as FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) and via cross-border grants administered by European Commission directorates and networks like Erasmus+ and INTERREG. Partnerships extend to broadcasters such as RTP and publishing platforms connected to Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda.
Notable Projects and Initiatives
ON has produced a range of initiatives: a city-scale cultural mapping project conducted with researchers from Universidade do Minho; a transdisciplinary residency program developed in dialogue with Hangar (Lisbon) and inspired by models at ZKM Center for Art and Media; a public festival that partnered with venues such as Centro Cultural de Belém and collaborators from Bienal de São Paulo; and a civic data collaboration drawing on methodologies used by Open Knowledge Foundation and urban labs in Barcelona. It has curated exhibitions referencing archival material from Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo and staged seminars featuring guests from Princeton University, MIT Media Lab, and Goldsmiths, University of London.
Impact and Reception
Critics and practitioners have acknowledged ON’s role in fostering cross-sectoral collaboration among institutions such as Serralves, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and municipal actors, while commentators in outlets like Público and Jornal de Notícias have debated its influence on urban cultural policy. Academia has cited ON’s research in studies produced at Universidade Nova de Lisboa and ISCTE, and cultural networks including Culture Action Europe have featured ON’s models in comparative analyses. Detractors associated with local housing advocates and groups active in neighborhoods covered by initiatives tied to Habitat International Coalition have critiqued aspects of regeneration linked to cultural programming. Overall, ON is recognized within Portuguese and Lusophone cultural circuits as a catalyst for experimentation that connects local practices with transnational institutions such as UNESCO, European Commission, and major museums across Europe.
Category:Cultural organisations based in Portugal Category:Non-profit organisations based in Portugal