Outdoor Arts Portugal strengthens strategic presence at FiraTàrrega 2025, Europe’s leading marketplace for artistic creation in public space

From 11 to 14 September, the Catalan city of Tàrrega will once again become the European epicentre of artistic creation in public space, hosting FiraTàrrega 2025: the largest European marketplace in the sector, annually gathering around one thousand accredited professionals from across the world. Portugal will be represented through the platform Outdoor Arts Portugal, promoted by Bússola, which has established itself as a key reference in the internationalisation strategy of public space performing arts and contemporary circus from Portugal.

Over the past decade, Portuguese participation in Tàrrega has been decisive for the international recognition of the sector, strengthening ties with the Catalan context and expanding the visibility of Portuguese artists and companies. In 2025, this trajectory is reinforced with a dedicated programme delivered in close partnership with FiraTàrrega, underlining Portugal’s strategic positioning within the European dynamic of artistic creation in public space.

The programme includes the installation and curation of the Outdoor Arts Portugal stand, a meeting and networking hub to promote the national sector, where the digital map of artistic creation in public space in Portugal will be highlighted: a free bilingual tool that has become an essential resource for national and international professionals and programmers. At the same time, Bússola will organise bilateral meetings with international partners, strengthening the circulation of Portuguese projects and developing long-term cooperation strategies that support the expansion of the national sector.

In co-programming with FiraTàrrega, a key highlight is the public session “Reimagining public space: outdoor arts and the power of placemaking”, included in the official PRO programme and scheduled for 13 September (12:30). The discussion will bring together multidisciplinary perspectives on the role of outdoor arts as catalysts for more inclusive, vibrant, and meaningful places, drawing inspiration from the new Outdoor Arts Portugal book on the subject, to be launched in November. The panel will feature Sabine Kuhfuss (Bidstörung – Festival for performing arts in public space, Germany), Cie. Kamchatka (Spain), and architect Xevi Bayona (Spain), moderated by Bruno Costa, co-director of Bússola.

The impact of this long-term partnership is also reflected in the official programme of FiraTàrrega: the piece “Rizoma” by Coração nas Mãos has been selected and will be presented in the emblematic Pl. de les Nacions, one of the festival’s most prominent stages, confirming the international recognition of Portuguese artistic creation and the strength of long-standing ties with Catalonia.

Portuguese participation in Tàrrega underlines the significance of Outdoor Arts Portugal as an interdisciplinary platform that integrates professional capacity-building, audience development, research, and international promotion. More than a representation space, the platform positions itself as a driver of transformation, grounded in a strategic vision for the internationalisation and valorisation of contemporary languages and innovative dramaturgies in public space. This positioning is further reinforced by its continuous presence in leading international networks, such as the Circostrada Network, IN SITU - European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space, and IETM - International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts, contributing to a structured vision that is aligned with European partners and fully integrated into the debates and strategies shaping the future of the sector.

Outdoor Arts Portugal is a project promoted by Bússola, with the support of the Portuguese Republic - Culture, Youth and Sports, through the Directorate-General for the Arts.