Porto celebrates the Christmas spirit with an afternoon dedicated to creativity, art and cultural participation. On Saturday, 12 December, between 3 pm and 7 pm, “Creative Christmas” invites the public to take part in a free cultural programme, as part of Porto City Council’s Christmas celebrations and promoted by Ágora.

The initiative brings together a showcase of creative talent, art workshops, creative writing and music, offering visitors an afternoon of experimentation, sharing and discovery in an atmosphere of creativity and celebration. The programme also includes the opportunity to revisit the exhibitions featured in the Simultaneous Openings, providing a chance to rediscover the artistic offer of the Miguel Bombarda Cultural Quarter and strengthen the connection between the community, galleries and creative professionals who bring this area to life.

One of the highlights is the Creative Showcase, curated by visual artists Mariana PTKS and mynameisnotSEM. The initiative aims to give visibility to the talent, creativity and craftsmanship of Porto’s creators, celebrating the diversity and richness of the city’s creative scene.

More than simply marking the Christmas season, “Creative Christmas” aims to foster encounters, sharing and the exchange of experiences between creators, residents, workers and visitors to the Miguel Bombarda Cultural Quarter. The initiative offers a different way to experience Christmas, with art and participation at its heart, creating opportunities for new experiences and encounters. In addition to discovering and purchasing original pieces, visitors are invited to create and craft unique objects, each with its own meaning, in an atmosphere of sharing and celebration.

The artistic workshops – DIY & DIT – will feature Joana de Abreu, from the Preencher Vazios project, who will lead a workshop to create a “Christmas Message” tile panel, and Ana Pinho, from Oficina Cobalto, who will host a Christmas star painting activity. The workshop facilitators from the ART-ividade Association will also join forces with Joana Valente, from the “Abraçar o Mundo” project, proposing the creation of Christmas decorations using reused materials. This activity brings together creativity, artistic expression, sustainability and inclusion.

The event image, entitled “Journey”, is an original artwork by the multidisciplinary artist Inês Arisca (Porto, 1993).