Cupertino de Miranda Foundation

The Fundação Cupertino de Miranda (Cupertino de Miranda Foundation) is a private, non-profit foundation of general interest headquartered in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. It was established by the initiative of Arthur Cupertino de Miranda and his wife, Elzira Celeste Maya de Sá Cupertino de Miranda, who endowed it with personal assets. Its statutes were drawn up on 15 August 1963 and approved by the supervising authority on 2 October 1963. The couple donated part of their personal wealth, including a block of shares representing 5% of the share capital of Banco Português do Atlântico, with the aim of creating an institution dedicated to cultural promotion and support for people in economic hardship. The foundation was formally inaugurated on 8 December 1972. The foundation pursues primarily cultural objectives and, secondarily, social ones. It operates the Museu da Fundação Cupertino de Miranda (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), the Biblioteca Fundação Cupertino de Miranda (library), an auditorium, and a bookshop, using these facilities to promote and disseminate cultural initiatives across different areas of expression. It is recognised as a legal person of public utility. Its cultural programme is particularly noted for its work in the visual arts, with a museum that displays works from the foundation's own collection alongside temporary exhibitions, and for a library that serves the community. In the social field, it supports various organisations and institutions, including Projeto Homem in Braga, a therapeutic programme for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug addicts, as well as support for families and citizens in need. Its financial and asset management, as well as the planning of its activities, is ensured by a Board of Directors (Conselho de Administração), an Executive Council (Conselho Executivo), and a Fiscal Council (Conselho Fiscal). In recent years the foundation has expanded its cultural offering. It created the Centro Português do Surrealismo (Portuguese Centre of Surrealism, CPS), an expansion and repositioning of its earlier Centro de Estudos do Surrealismo (CES), undertaking renovation works on its building to create exhibition conditions for the launch. It also operates the Torre Literária, a space dedicated to Portuguese literature spread over four floors and fourteen rooms, spanning from the 20th century back to the 13th century, and seeking to establish connections between each space, presenting the present moving towards the past. The foundation holds the documentary and artistic estate of the Portuguese surrealist poet Mário Cesariny. Its educational service develops cultural mediation programmes and educational and recreational activities. The foundation also offers a range of tickets and a "Cartão Amigo FCM" (Friend Card) and has established new partnerships. On 30 June 1997, the Vila Nova de Famalicão Municipal Council awarded the foundation the Medal of Honour of the Municipality. The foundation's mission is encapsulated in the words of its founder: "Temple of Art, Culture and Goodness, may it be, in my native land: Praise to Work, Honour to Knowledge, Hymn to Love, Testimony of my devotion to this People" (Arthur Cupertino de Miranda, 1970).

The Fundação Cupertino de Miranda was instituted by the initiative of Arthur Cupertino de Miranda and his wife, D. Elzira Celeste Maya de Sá Cupertino de Miranda, who allocated personal assets to it and constituted it through statutes dated 15 August 1963, approved by the supervising authority on 2 October 1963. The couple donated part of their personal assets, which included a set of shares representing 5% of the share capital of Banco Português do Atlântico, envisaging the creation of an institution for cultural promotion and support for situations of economic hardship. The foundation was inaugurated on 8 December 1972. The festive programme brought together a significant number of official entities and guests, including the then President of the Republic, Admiral Américo Thomaz. It began in Louro, inaugurating the Church, the Pastoral Centre, the parish residence, the Parish Council building, the Casa do Povo and the Market. A motorcade then proceeded to the Foundation. At the Museum, the 1st Biennial of New Artists was inaugurated and some of the paintings from Arthur Cupertino de Miranda's collection were on display. An exhibition was also inaugurated at the Library. A solemn session was then held in the Auditorium. At the time of the Revolution of 25 April 1974, the Fundação Cupertino de Miranda was affected by the nationalisations, which hit its financial patrimony. The foundation's activity, in its cultural aspect, has been evident, on the educational and cultural level, through the support that its valuable Library provides to the community as well as through systematic programming in the field of Plastic Arts. In this context, works from the foundation's collection and other temporary exhibitions can be appreciated in its museum. In the assistance field, it supports various bodies and institutions such as Projeto Homem, in Braga, a therapeutic programme for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug addicts. It also provides support to families and citizens in need. Its financial and asset management, as well as the planning of its activities, is ensured by a Board of Directors, an Executive Council and a Fiscal Council. On 30 June 1997, the Vila Nova de Famalicão Municipal Council awarded the Medal of Honour of the Municipality to the Fundação Cupertino de Miranda. In more recent years, the foundation has continued to develop its cultural programme. It created the Centro Português do Surrealismo (CPS), an expansion and repositioning of its earlier Centro de Estudos do Surrealismo (CES), carrying out renovation works on its building to create exhibition conditions for the launch. It also operates the Torre Literária, a space dedicated to Portuguese literature spread over 4 floors and 14 rooms, starting in the 20th century and going back to the 13th century, attempting to establish connections between each of the spaces, which are presented from the present to the past. The foundation holds the documentary and artistic estate of the surrealist poet Mário Cesariny. Its educational service develops cultural mediation programmes and educational and recreational activities. The foundation offers tickets including a "Bilhete Experiência Completa" (Complete Experience Ticket) and a "Cartão Amigo FCM" (Friend Card), and has established new partnerships.

• 2026

  Exhibition 'Cadavre-Exquis: Fotografar em continuidade' scheduled from 26 September 2026 to 28 February 2027.

• 1997

  Awarded the Medal of Honour of the Municipality by Vila Nova de Famalicão Municipal Council on 30 June 1997.

• 1974

  Affected by the nationalisations following the Revolution of 25 April 1974.

• 1972

  Foundation inaugurated on 8 December 1972.

• 1963

  Statutes dated 15 August 1963; approved by the supervising authority on 2 October 1963.

A private cultural foundation of public utility, dedicated to art, culture and social support in northern Portugal.

• Museu da Fundação Cupertino de Miranda

  Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, displaying works from the foundation's collection and temporary exhibitions.

• Biblioteca Fundação Cupertino de Miranda

  Library serving the community and supporting educational and cultural activities.

• Centro Português do Surrealismo (CPS)

  An expansion and repositioning of the former Centro de Estudos do Surrealismo (CES), dedicated to surrealism.

• Torre Literária

  A space dedicated to Portuguese literature over 4 floors and 14 rooms, from the 20th century back to the 13th century.

• Auditório

  Auditorium for events and solemn sessions.

• Livraria

  Bookshop.

1. 1Fundação Cupertino de Miranda - official websitecupertino.pt
2. 2Fundação Cupertino de Miranda - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Fundação Cupertino de Miranda - Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org