Arte no Porto Project selects artists for exhibition in Santos

The historical relationship between Baixada Santista and the port universe will be transformed into art through the Arte no Porto Project – 1st Edition, an initiative that is open for registration to select visual artists from the region for a collective exhibition in Santos.

The project seeks to encourage local cultural production and promote dialogue between art, city and port activity, one of the region’s main economic drivers. The proposal is for artists to express, through their works, different interpretations of the theme “Porto”, addressing historical, social, economic, environmental and human aspects related to the sector.

In total, 10 visual artists residing in Baixada Santista will be selected. Each participant will receive a credit of R$1,000 to purchase artistic materials, in addition to the support necessary for the production of an original and unpublished work in two-dimensional format, which will be part of an exhibition scheduled to take place between July and August 2026, in Santos.

The initiative is organized by Coruja Consultoria Empresarial & Projetos Culturais Ltda., with support from the Ministry of Culture through the Rouanet Law, and aims to expand the population’s access to regional artistic production, while at the same time strengthening the appreciation of culture linked to the port environment.

Popular vote and urban mural

In addition to the collective exhibition, the project will feature a special stage for popular participation. During the exhibition period, visitors will be able to vote for their favorite artists through a digital system accessed by QR Code.

The five artists with the most votes will be invited to a second phase of the project: the painting of a large urban mural in Santos. For this artistic intervention, each person selected will receive a fee of R$5,000, in addition to all the materials provided by the organization.

The mural will measure approximately 133.79 square meters and will be divided equally among participants, creating a collective work inspired by the port theme.

Who can participate

Artists over the age of 18 residing in Santos, São Vicente, Praia Grande, Cubatão, Guarujá, Bertioga, Itanhaém, Mongaguá and Peruíbe can participate.

Candidates must present an artistic CV, proof of residence, a digital portfolio containing at least two works in two-dimensional support and one mural work, in addition to a description of the artistic concept they intend to develop for the proposed theme.

The evaluation committee will consider criteria such as technical quality, originality of the portfolio and coherence of the artistic proposal.

Port culture and identity

More than an exhibition, the Arte no Porto Project aims to strengthen the connection between the population and the region’s main economic symbol. The Port of Santos, responsible for a large part of Brazilian foreign trade, also has a direct influence on the construction of the cultural identity of Baixada Santista.

By encouraging local artists to portray this reality through art, the initiative contributes to expanding society’s perception of the historical, economic and social importance of the port environment.

Registration is free and remains open until June 10th. The results of the selected artists are scheduled to be announced on June 18, 2026.

To sign up, visit this link

Read Public Call No. 01/2026: link