Opening of Centro Cultural e de Investigação do Funchal

A New Hub for Culture, Research, and Technology.

Last Friday’s much-anticipated opening of the Centro Cultural e de Investigação do Funchal (CCIF) marked a significant milestone for Funchal and the wider Madeira region. This cultural and scientific-technological centre, located within the historic confines of the former Funchal slaughterhouse in Campo da Barca, is poised to become a new focal point for culture, research, and technology.

In a recent visit to the CCIF, Pedro Calado, the Mayor of Funchal, emphasized the immense potential of this centre to boost cultural expression, host international exhibitions, and contribute to the intellectual enrichment of society. He described the CCIF as a fantastic space with both national and international relevance, providing a platform for local cultural groups to showcase their work.

The CCIF boasts a 375-seat auditorium that will play a pivotal role in complementing the activities of the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias. It will host various events, including artistic performances, workshops, congresses, and more. Additionally, the CCIF’s scientific and technological section, already operational, is a testament to the vital collaboration with the eGames Lab project, in which the ITI is a scientific partner. This collaboration, funded through the European Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), allocated five million euros to CCIF and involved 31 researchers and scholars working on software development and research projects.

Starting last Friday, the CCIF opened its doors to the public with three captivating exhibitions, including one dedicated to honouring Fernão de Ornelas, who played a pivotal role in shaping the urban landscape of Funchal. Another show tells the story of the CCIF’s transformation from the former Funchal Municipal Slaughterhouse. Lastly, “Pablo Picasso – Os Jogos do Amor e da Morte” showcases a collection of a hundred engravings and drawings by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, offering a journey through his creative evolution from 1930 to 1937.

The inauguration of the CCIF heralds a new era of cultural and technological exploration in Funchal, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation and promising a brighter future for the region’s artistic and research endeavours. It stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between institutions like the Interaction Technologies Institute (ITI) and the local government, paving the way for a thriving cultural landscape in Madeira.