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Interview with NAU Association

I visited various times NAU in Caldas and always it was a pleasant visit, and interesting too. So I decided to ask to Joao Belga some questions about the association, here you are the answers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you tell our readers why you decided to open this space? 

 

We decided to open NAU because as independent art makers we felt the need to create

a non-institutional space that disclose and promote the different local artistic practices. The NAU 

is a cultural nonprofit association, since October 2013, that intend to create a connection 

between contemporary art and local culture. 

 

Which are your Association’s objectives? 

 

Beyond the promotion of local culture our objectives in the future are to create ateliers and 

residencies with invited artists. This program intends to open in Caldas a space devoted to the 

artistic formation and experimentation. 

 

Can you describe in a few word your main activities? 

 

Now our main activities are focused in the program of cultural events for the NAU space, which 

allows us to present our project publically, and curated exhibitions, with local artists and other, 

out of town. Like the present (May 2014) exhibition in Alcobaça. 

 

Many of you are not born in Caldas da Rainha. Why did you decided to live and do your 

cultural activities in Caldas? 

 

First because we believe in Caldas cultural possibilities. But, in fact most of our members are 

not from Caldas. The main reason, I think, has to do with the fact that the majority of us met 

while we were studying in ESAD.CR (School of Fine Arts and Design of Caldas da Rainha). 

Although each of us has their own personal reasons. The fact of Caldas be a pleasant city to live 

also helped. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you tell our readers two good reasons to come to live to Caldas da Rainha. 

 

First: the natural beauty of the region, if we forget the environmental attacks that have been 

committed mainly in Lagoa de Óbidos and in Bom Sucesso area. 

Second: the cultural diversity that the city can offer. 

 

Which is your opinion about Caldas cultural life? 

 

In my personal opinion, as a member of NAU, I think that the cultural life in Caldas, in the last 20 

years, has gained its own identity and singularity. All this as a result of the opening of ESAD, in 

1990, and in consequence of the existence of a local movement that has been trying to create, 

at the same time, alternative and independent forms for the artistic making. 

About the institutional culture, although the amount of museums (Caldas is the town

in Portugal with more museums per capita),

i think it does not take advantage from this or from the highly creative environment. 

 

Caldas is quite near to Lisbon, a so lively city: do you think that Caldas could benefit 

from this proximity? And if yes, in which ways? 

 

Yes. The geographical proximity allows us to bring more public to our events and establish a 

closer link, in both directions, with projects and artists from Lisbon. 

 

Who are the visitors and customers of you space? And you have also foreigners who 

visit it? 

 

Our public is diverse, because we try to reflect on different forms of artistic expression and 

cross different audiences. I think we haven’t more foreign visitors because we are located in a 

city area rarely frequented by tourists. 

 

If you would compare Caldas to another city in the world, which will it be? 

 

I prefer to not establish comparisons. Because I like to see Caldas da Rainha as a city with its 

own personality and a singular direction in a world ever more massified and in a country 

increasingly hostage of imported models. 

 

Do you have incoming events that you would like to tell us about? 

 

Soon you can get more information through our facebook.