Porto, July 11, 2024 (Lusa) - The international application process for the artistic and educational director of Casa da Música in Porto has received 44 applications, of which 11 are from Portuguese citizens and 33 from other nationalities, the institution said on Thursday.
In a statement, Casa da Música said that the process to replace the current director, António Jorge Pacheco, was launched on 29 May, with applications open until 25 June, so "the evaluation of candidates is now underway".
The terms of the process required "extensive management experience in cultural institutions, preferably in the area of music", the demonstration of "the ability to motivate and involve Casa da Música's collaborators and founders in their artistic and pedagogical ideas, integrate a substantial network of artists, music and artistic agencies and opinion leaders in the field of music, as well as having proximity to or interest in the Portuguese language and culture".
Casa da Música explains that the interview phase is now underway and that it is estimated that "the new person responsible for the artistic and educational direction of Casa da Música will be identified by the end of September".
The winner will be "responsible for Casa da Música's artistic and educational programming", and the artistic director will also be in charge of, "among other responsibilities", the "leadership of a team of around 130 people", including those who make up "the five resident musical groups and the technical and production departments".
The position is limited to an initial term of four years, with the possibility of an extension.
"The Casa da Música Foundation welcomes the interest that the competition for the position of artistic and educational director of the institution has caused in the national and international cultural and artistic circles," reads the statement released today.
The jury for the competition is chaired by José Manuel Dias da Fonseca, former chairman of the board of directors of the Casa da Música Foundation, and includes Rui Amorim de Sousa, chairman of the board of directors of the Casa da Música Foundation, Louwrens Langevoort, president of ECHO - European Concert Hall Organisation, Cláudia Leite, member of the board of directors of the São João National Theatre, and Daniel Moreira, composer and teacher.
The advert for applications for the artistic and education directorships was originally published on Casa da Música's Linkedin network, on the international page of its website and through Metrum, a German company dedicated to "senior executive search for arts and culture", an advert that was replicated by organisations such as the Arts Council in the UK and the Jobatus portal in Italy.
António Jorge Pacheco, the current artistic director of Casa da Música, has held this position since January 2009, when he succeeded pianist Pedro Burmester.
At the time, António Jorge Pacheco was already coordinator of Casa da Música's programme and was associated with the creation of the institution. He coordinated the musical programme for the European Capital of Culture Porto 2001 and served as artistic director of Casa da Música on an interim basis between November 2005 and March 2006.
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