Bairros is an event which celebrates the creativity of the communities involved in the Neighbourhoods with Energy project, an initiative by the Iminente festival in partnership with the EDP Foundation. The day-long event is dedicated to culture, sustainability, and social innovation at Praça do Carvão / Coal Square, outside MAAT Central, on 21 September, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, with free admission.

The programme invites the public to immerse themselves in the creativity of local communities through exhibitions, practical workshops, performances, conversations, and gastronomy. The initiative seeks to give visibility to artists and residents who participated in the project's workshops, bringing the city closer to the cultural expressions that arise in its neighbourhoods.

Programme

Cafofo do Fazer – Workshop Station (3pm – 7pm)

• A space dedicated to practical experimentation and sustainability, with workshops led by local artists and collectives. Includes activities such as handmade tiles (Manel Alma), clothing design and upcycling (Pitanga) and planting native species (Flor de Murta).

Exhibitions and shows

• Bairros Exhibition: Works developed in the 2025 workshops with different communities
• Book Space: Portable library and reading benches built in previous editions of the programme
• Bairros Cinema Booth: Short films produced as part of the project

Gastronomy

• Bairros Stalls: Local gastronomic experiences prepared by participating communities

Community conversations and dialogues

• Bairros Conversations in the Shade: Debates with representatives from Alta de Lisboa and Curraleira on territory, community culture and the role of art in neighbourhood life

Moments of celebration and performances

• 4:00 p.m. – Curraleira March: Musical performance led by Tristany, combining gypsy tradition, Portuguese folklore and youthful energy
• 4:30 p.m. – Curraleira Fashion Show: Results of the upcycling workshop led by Pitanga
• 5:30 p.m. – Bairros Music 2025: Presentation of the results of the music workshop with artists Fumaxa, Daus and Pika
• 6:30 p.m. – Deejay Rifox & Tia Vivix: Concert by the mother-daughter duo residing in PER9, with performances in Portugal, Spain and Cape Verde

The Bairros event reinforces the mission of the EDP Foundation and the Iminente festival to promote inclusion, creativity and connection between communities through culture.