WOOL | Covilhã Urban Art presented itself in 2011 as the first festival of these expressions of Contemporary Art in Portugal, introducing them as tools capable of promoting social, cultural, economic and/or tourist transformation in a community and territory, specifically in the Interior, aspiring to its growing cohesion, sustainability and a necessary decentralization of Culture.

Through a unique format and way of working, WOOL has used several walls located in the historic center of Covilhã for interventions by various urban artists, with the aim (*) of:

  • awaken the community’s interest in culture and contemporary art, especially urban art;
  • pay homage to this territory as a way of rediscovering its identity;
  • rehabilitating urban areas through art, making it accessible to all, in a clear act of democratizing art;
  • involving the community in all interventions and actions, so that they understand them as their own;
  • building an art itinerary in the city, promoting occupation and transformation.

 

(*) Objectives defined in March 2011, in the design of the WOOL project

13    Years _ 2011 > 2024

11     Editions in Covilhã

44     Formats in Portugal and abroad

163   Artistic murals and installations

73    Artistic interventions in Covilhã

58    Portuguese artists

32    Foreign artists

FEATURED PROJECTS

WOOL | Covilhã Urban Art (Portugal – Covilhã, 2011 > …).

LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshops for the Elderly (2012 > …) _ a pioneering project worldwide, with 62 actions carried out in 6 different countries, for 761 students aged between 65 and 102.

TOUR PARIS 13 (France – Paris, 2013) _ curated by the first group of Portuguese urban artists to take part in a globally recognized project.

DJERBAHOOD (Tunisia – Djerba, 2014) _ curated by the first group of Portuguese urban artists to take part in a pioneering artistic project worldwide.

WOOL ON TOUR (Portugal – Lisbon / LxFactory, 2012 > 2015) _ project responsible for launching Portuguese urban artists, now internationally renowned, such as Bordalo II, Add Fuel, Mário Belém or Tamara Alves.

WOOL + | Urban Art more accessible (Portugal – Covilhã, 2023 > 2024) _ a project focusing on the visual arts and public space that proposed a series of actions to guarantee access, enjoyment and artistic creation (community artist residencies, accessibility resources, guided tours and performance shows) for people with disabilities, hearing impairments or other specific needs.