The Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, A Oficina / Centro Cultural Vila Flor, O Espaço do Tempo, and Teatro Viriato have once again joined forces for the 9th edition of the Amélia Rey Colaço Grant, a creation grant aimed at supporting the production of performances by young artists and emerging companies based in Portugal. Applications are now open and can be submitted until 19 April.

Created in 2018, in homage to the actress and director Amélia Rey Colaço and her important role in the history of Portuguese theatre, this grant aims to contribute to the renewal of the Portuguese theatrical landscape by injecting new ideas and voices. Awarded annually, the Amélia Rey Colaço Grant seeks to increase access for emerging artists and new theatre companies to essential production resources and research spaces, enabling them to consolidate their body of work while also promoting and encouraging the creation of new dramaturgies, the expansion of audiences, and the national recognition of the work of emerging artists and companies.

With a monetary value of €25,000, the Amélia Rey Colaço Grant supports the production of the winning project, which will also have access to three artistic residencies, taking place in Guimarães, Montemor-o-Novo, and Viseu, between November 2026 and March 2027. The selected project will result in a performance scheduled to premiere on 9 June 2027 at the Small Auditorium of Centro Cultural Vila Flor, in Guimarães, followed by presentations in the other partner venues of the grant.

The jury responsible for selecting the winning project of the 9th edition of the Amélia Rey Colaço Grant is composed of Pedro Penim (Artistic Director of Teatro Nacional D. Maria II), Sofia Campos (Board Member of Teatro Nacional D. Maria II), Pedro Barreiro (Artistic Director of O Espaço do Tempo), Patrícia Carvalho (Executive Director of O Espaço do Tempo), Bruno dos Reis (Director of Teatro Oficina and Theatre Programmer at Centro Cultural Vila Flor), Marta Silva (Education and Cultural Mediation – A Oficina), António M. Cabrita (Programming Director of Teatro Viriato), and Maria João Rochete (Programming Assistant at Teatro Viriato).

The announcement of the winning project of this new edition will take place on 27 May 2026, the premiere date of the performance TOSHiiB4, by Luísa Guerra, winner of the previous edition of the grant. TOSHiiB4 will be on stage at Sala Estúdio Valentim de Barros, in Jardins do Bombarda, Lisbon, from 27 to 31 May, and will then be presented at Centro Cultural Vila Flor in Guimarães on 12 June, at Teatro Viriato in Viseu on 20 June, and at O Espaço do Tempo in Montemor-o-Novo on 4 and 5 September.

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Application period: 5 March to 19 April 2026
Application form, Frequently Asked Questions, and regulations available here.