Along downtown Maputo, on Avenida Mártires de Inhaminga, there are historic buildings such as the Central Station of the Mozambique Railways, the Maputo Fortress, the Currency Museum, the Fisheries Museum and also the Maputo Harbour Gallery. The front view, with four emblematic faces of Mozambican culture, Noémia de Sousa (poet), Alberto Chissano (sculptor), José Craveirinha (poet), Malangatana (painter) and Fany Mpfumo (musician), already tells us a lot about what this development, which opened its doors in 2019 to meet the needs of all its customers and the general public, has in store.
It was created as part of the government's plan to redevelop the city centre. It is a meeting point for Mozambican and foreign artists and culture makers. It is located in an old harbour workshop, next to the Cabotage Terminal.
The Galeria Porto de Maputo has a hall for shows, two internal "VIP" spaces, two external spaces, two main bars and two mobile bars. Its aesthetic is undeniable and almost unique. Right from the entrance, the space is decorated with exclusive custom-made materials, which maintains its architectural essence and preserves its history.
This is a space that aspires to cultural representativeness and inspires art, gastronomy, leisure, national and international tourism and also responds to and satisfies the demand for large/small, corporate/private events.
Gastronomy is the key to attracting the public. At the entrance, the smell of the varied cuisine invites those with a good palate to indulge in delicacies ranging from seafood and vegetables inspired above all by Mozambican flavours and a mixture of international influences.
There is a diversity of artistic and cultural activities here, which has contributed to a good atmosphere at the venue. Events ranging from photography exhibitions, sculpture, handicrafts, book launches, concerts, corporate and private events are held here, not to mention the nightclub that provides the best in entertainment. In the company of refined gastronomic delicacies, with dishes from national and international destinations, this is a truly surprisingly cosy space.
The Gallery is the meeting point between national and foreign artists and the public. It has ample conference space to meet the needs of its clients, with a wider range of services available. Various figures from Mozambican society have passed through the space, in almost every field, and major events have been held with national and international artists.
Given the nature of the virus, which has spread throughout the country and the world, the income of artists, show promoters and other culture makers has been significantly affected. Therefore, as a way of minimising the negative impact on the cultural and creative industry, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Gallery promoted the "Art in the Backyard" initiative, which consisted of producing and holding cultural events in the digital environment. These events were broadcast via streaming on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and television.
Today, the Galeria Porto de Maputo is an important cultural centre, where major events take place. It's worth a visit!
