francisca manuel

Between 2006 and 2014 a nineteen century building situated on Avenida Liberdade in Lisbon was a place for about fifty national and international artists, into the idea of developing their artistic practices. Throughout these years, a series of events have taken place including concerts, improvisations, performances, workshops, classes and mostly collective and individual exhibitions. Following the artistic occupation we can conclude that this was perhaps the greatest unconscious contribution that a patronage could have made to a generation that was formed there. After ‘BES’ bank ceased due to corruption, at the end of 2014, artists were forced to empty the building and the bank was renamed ‘Novo Banco’. The building was sold to make way for another property to contribute to gentrification that is strongly taking place in the city of Lisbon. Here the building itself is retracted as a character, hosting some phantom testimonies of artists who have passed by.