Festival Iminente: Abandoned Lisbon School Becomes Art Hub
Festival Iminente is celebrating its 10th anniversary by breathing life into a relic of Lisbon’s past. From September 17 to 20, the multidisciplinary festival—which seamlessly blends music and visual arts—will take over the abandoned Afonso Domingues Industrial School in Marvila, a venue that presents as many challenges as it does creative opportunities.
The school was shuttered 15 years ago to make way for the Third Tagus Crossing high-speed rail project, which never materialized. Left to decay, the site became a labyrinth of debris. “When we first entered, there was trash everywhere—in every room, in every hallway,” festival director Juliana Almeida told Lusa. “There was no water, no electricity. It was truly abandoned, with roof tiles falling off.”
A Philosophy of Coexistence
Since November, crews have been working to revitalize the structure without erasing its history. Graffiti remains on the walls, and the festival’s art installations are designed to respect the building’s grit. Beyond the physical cleanup, the organizers faced a human challenge: the school had become a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
“Iminente never asked people to leave. We always believed there is room for coexistence,” Almeida explained. While many residents moved on independently, six people remain on-site. The festival has worked with the Lisbon City Council to find housing solutions, but in the meantime, the residents are part of the team. Two are currently helping with the festival’s preparation, and the public will not have access to their private living quarters during the event.
140 Artists, Five Stages
The 10-year anniversary lineup reflects the festival’s signature “clash” of styles, featuring over 140 artists across five stages. The roster spans hip-hop, hardcore, fado, and electronic music, including heavyweights like DJ Premier, Sam The Kid (performing with an orchestra), Mão Morta, Dino d’Santiago, and Gisela João.
The school’s original architecture has dictated the festival’s layout:
- Palco Campo (Field Stage): Located on an old football pitch, featuring a visual transformation by Halfstudio and a neighborhood football tournament.
- Palco Choque (Shock Stage): A crowd favorite, this stage is set up inside a bumper car track.
- Palco Cantina (Canteen Stage): Housed in the former refectory where senior proms were once held, now revamped by the 3D Crew.
- Palco Court: A former tennis court turned DJ hub, featuring a skate halfpipe and a “riding arena” for children on the final day.
From Classrooms to Art Galleries
Former laboratories and classrooms will serve as galleries for the “Bairros” project, showcasing community collaborations, alongside cinema screenings and dance performances. A major highlight includes an audiovisual installation by Vhils in the former gymnasium. The piece pays tribute to Nobel laureate José Saramago, who was once a student at this very school.
Other featured visual artists include Wasted Rita, ±MaisMenos±, Tamara Alves, and Obey SKTR, ensuring every corner of the derelict industrial space is saturated with contemporary culture.
With a daily capacity of 5,000 people, Festival Iminente aims to transform a forgotten piece of Lisbon’s infrastructure into a vibrant hub of “continuity, city, and belonging.” Tickets range from 20 euros for a daily pass to 60 euros for the full four-day experience.
Image: Pexels – Tiana
