GAMA RAMA in Faro enters a new stage of development with the opening of a larger-scale space at Rua do Prior 46, in the historic centre of Faro. Located in a former industrial warehouse – for decades the “Refrigerantes Quintódio” soft drinks factory where the famous “Pirolito”, “Sofrutos” and “Sufruto” came from – the building is now reactivated as a hub for contemporary creation, production and cultural programming.
Founded in 2020, GAMA RAMA began as a gallery, establishing itself as a platform for artistic exhibition and dissemination. Over time, it expanded its scope of activity to include artist studios, workshops, thematic gatherings and institutional projects developed in partnership with the Municipality of Faro, the Universidade do Algarve, schools and other local entities. Until now, its activity was based in a historic building at number 13 on the same street, where it consolidated an active artistic community and a regular cultural programme.
Led by the couple Toma Svazaite and Miguel Neto, GAMA RAMA operates as an independent cultural initiative dedicated to strengthening contemporary creation in the Algarve, supporting artistic production and building a long-term creative community. In this new phase, they are also counting on artist Tom Leamon, who has reimagined both the creative incubator and the exhibition space.
The organisation’s growth, the increasing demand for working spaces and the visibility achieved in recent years made the transition to a larger infrastructure necessary. “We felt that the project had outgrown the scale of our previous space. There was a growing demand for studios and working conditions that we could no longer guarantee,” explains Miguel Neto.
The rehabilitation of the former factory restores an industrial building to the city, transforming it into an ecosystem dedicated to experimentation, sustained practice and public engagement. More than a relocation, this represents the consolidation of a trajectory. “This change is not only physical. It is the affirmation of a long-term commitment to contemporary creation in the Algarve and to building a sustainable artistic community,” adds Toma Svazaite.
A new creative ecosystem in Faro
The opening of this space responds to a concrete regional need: the scarcity of accessible studios, production infrastructure and cultural structures with long-term continuity.
GAMA RAMA now concentrates, in a single location, 12 creation and production spaces – including private and shared studios – alongside workshops and shared resources for the development, finalisation and documentation of projects. Its programme also includes a regular schedule of public activities, covering exhibitions, workshops, talks, screenings and open studio moments.
The organisation currently hosts 14 artists from different disciplines and practices, fostering an environment of creative coexistence that encourages dialogue, experimentation and collaborative development. In parallel, it will continue its international artist residency programme, now in its third edition, reinforcing research and exchange within the Algarve context.
At the centre of this expansion is a clear commitment to “strengthening the connection to the territory”, promoting “the articulation between the artistic ecosystem and the local community through partnerships, educational initiatives and activities directed towards schools, residents and visitors”, according to the project’s representatives.
“We do not want to be merely a space for artists, but an active agent in the cultural construction of the city,” says Miguel Neto. “Building bridges with schools, the municipality and the community is essential for contemporary creation to become part of everyday life rather than exist on its margins.”
Inaugural exhibition: “Seasonal Fruit”
The new cycle is inaugurated with the group exhibition “Seasonal Fruit”, on view from March 28 to June 20.
Conceived as an open retrospective, the exhibition brings together artists who have been part of the project over the past five years, presenting works that reflect ongoing processes, consolidated research and moments of transformation in their practices.
Rather than functioning as a survey, the exhibition highlights the organic growth of an artistic community built since 2020. The works on display reveal cross-influences, individual trajectories and the vitality of a collective in constant evolution. Creation here does not appear as an isolated event, but as the result of continuity, dialogue and maturation.
The exhibition features local, national and international artists, including XANA, Tom Leamon, corpo atelier, Graça Paz, Susana Cereja, Halina Magdalena Ekberg, Albert Tannat, David Schmitt, Bruno Grilo, Milita Doré and many others.
The former factory, once dedicated to industrial transformation, is now reactivated as a site of symbolic production – a space where the memory of labour is converted into creative energy.
Exhibition: “Seasonal Fruit” (Group Exhibition)
Dates: March 28 – June 20
Venue: GAMA RAMA – Rua do Prior 46, Faro
Opening hours: 5pm-7pm
Admission: Free
Artists
Albert Tannat, André Silva Sancho, Bisner, Bruno Grilo, corpo atelier, David Schmitt, Fernando Brazão, Graça Paz, Halina Magdalena Ekberg, Hélder de Sousa, Inês Pargana, Joana R. Sá, Los Pepes Studio, Luísa Leão, Milita Doré, Rita Kroh, Rui Vargas, Susana Cereja, Static Drama, Tom Leamon, XANA
Contact: Toma Svazaite | +351 961 371 891 | gamaramagallery@gmail.com
Instagram | Facebook
