São Lourenço Cultural Centre in Almancil, which closed in 2012 after over 30 years of promoting art and culture in the Algarve, has reopened under new management.
The centre was taken over two years ago by Paula and Mário Sequeira, two art lovers who already own an art gallery in Braga where they exhibit the works of well-known national and international artists.
Founded in 1981 by German couple Volker and Marie Huber, the São Lourenço Cultural Centre established itself as a top venue for art exhibitions, concerts and many other cultural events.
Back in 2012, Barry Shaw from the Amigos de Música de São Lourenço told the Resident that Volker and Marie had “set up a superb commercial art gallery, the like of which Portugal had never seen before.”
“The gallery opened amidst a blaze of national publicity. Letters of congratulations, praise from the President of the Republic and in-depth press, television and radio coverage.
“As time went by, they sought other ways in which to bring culture to what was then a rustic and arid corner of Europe by beginning various projects among which were visual awareness classes for children and, of course, music.”
Volker Huber died in 2004 and Marie kept the centre going until 2012, when she decided that the workload had become too great for her age.
“It was a great adventure, which unfortunately is coming to an end,” Marie told the Resident at the time.
Now under the new management of Paula and Mário Sequeiro, hopes are that the centre can return to its glory days.
It reopened to the public on July 29 with an exhibition by Jason Martin, a renowned British artist who lives and works in both Portugal and England and has showcased his work all over the world.
São Lourenço Cultural Centre is located next to the São Lourenço church, described by the new owners of the centre as a “treasure trove of architecture in the Algarve”.
“The space is calm with pleasant courtyards and terrace and has the charm of the traditional Algarvian buildings of the late 19th century,” the new owners say.
‘If not now, when?’, the title of the exhibition by Jason Martin, will be at the cultural centre until August 31 and can be visited Monday to Friday between 3.30pm and 7.30pm or by appointment.
More information can be obtained by contacting Cristina Palma.
+351 910 971 880 | centroculturalslourenco@gmail.com
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
