John dos Passos Cultural Centre

About the John dos Passos Cultural Centre

Located in the centre of the town of Ponta do Sol, the John dos Passos Cultural Centre is one of the most visited cultural venues on Madeira's west coast. It is a very dynamic space, which favours the municipality's artists and collectors.

This centre is dedicated to John dos Passos, a popular modernist writer. His grandfather, Manoel Joaquim Dos Passos, was born in the municipality of Ponta do Sol, but emigrated to the United States of America. The author, a North-American national, eventually visited the island as a child in 1905, accompanied by his wife and daughter in 1960.

The John dos Passos Cultural Centre is housed in a 19th-century building. This building, which once belonged to relatives of the writer, was acquired in 2000 by the Regional Government of Madeira.

Currently, the John dos Passos Cultural Centre has a permanent exhibition room dedicated to the life and work of the writer. It also has two museum areas, which are always open to visitors, a library, spaces for temporary exhibitions and an auditorium that hosts seminars and initiatives in different areas, such as music, dance and theatre. A symposium dedicated to the author is held here annually.