The John Dos Passos Cultural Center was inaugurated on September 20th, 2004. The opening ceremony was presided by the President of the Regional Government of Madeira and counted with the presence of Lucy Dos Passos Coggin, Rodney Coggin and Lara Dos Passos Coggin, respectively the daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter of the American writer, descendant of an emigrant from Ponta do Sol.
The original property, Villa Passos, is located in the heart of the town of Ponta do Sol and represents an ex libris of its built and historical heritage. It belonged to the family of Manoel Joaquim Dos Passos, born in 1812, John Dos Passos’ paternal grandfather, who emigrated to the United States in 1830. In 1996, the Regional Government of Madeira acquired the property from Maria Amália Pitta Telles, the last owner of Villa Passos, who at the time lived in Venezuela.
Villa Passos, built in the first half of the nineteenth century, was subject to a delicate process of restoration. However, the original features of the end of the 30s, when it underwent the ultimate changes by its last tenant, Dr Fortunato Pitta, Maria Amália Pitta Telles’ father, were maintained. This construction work resulted in the current John Dos Passos Cultural Center, with its multipurpose spaces. Cultural associations and other municipal entities are based in some of them.
Within the scope of seminars and conferences, the Center organizes, individually or in partnership with other public and/or private entities, an annual conference in the fields which were at the genesis of its foundation: John Dos Passos, Emigration and Culture. The Center also fosters lectures and workshops, whenever relevant.
As part of its wider project Digital Nomads Madeira, Startup Madeira created the Digital Nomad Village. With an established partnership, the Center hosts this project’s working space since February 1st, 2021.
As far as the activities organized by the Educational Services are concerned, the focus is on intergenerational encounters, cinema sessions and guided tours. Activities are held specifically for the municipality's children, with special emphasis on books, reading and the Dra. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library.
Spaces of the Cultural Center
The John Dos Passos Cultural Center comprises several spaces that host temporary exhibitions, a room with a permanent exhibition dedicated to John Dos Passos, two museum spaces, always available for visiting, a special collections room, the Dra. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, which counts with the American author’s extensive work, and an auditorium where cultural activities are carried out. Throughout the year, the Center promotes and hosts several activities related to music, dancing, theatre, cinema and also painting and photography exhibitions, privileging artists and collectors from Ponta do Sol, local or foreigners, who are thus able to disseminate their art to a wider public.
John Dos Passos
John Roderigo Dos Passos was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on January 14th, 1896. Having a grandfather from Ponta do Sol, he always showed interest and pride in his Madeiran roots and visited the island on 1905, 1921 and 1960. His last book, entitled The Portugal Story: Three Centuries of Exploration and Discovery, is precisely a tribute to his origins.
John Dos Passos Prize
In its first edition, the John Dos Passos Prize was initially sponsored in partnership with the Municipality of Ponta do Sol and the former Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs, through the John Dos Passos Library. It only had three editions that awarded prizes to, respectively: 1st Edition (2007) – Fiction Prose Category, the book O Acidente, by Mário Cabral; 2nd Edition (2009) – Historical or Literary Essay Category, the work História Contemporânea de Portugal. Do 25 de Abril à Actualidade, by António José Telo; 3rd Edition (2011) – Fiction Prose Category, the book Jerusalém, by Mia Couto.
It was resumed in 2019 by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture, through the Regional Directorate for Culture and the John Dos Passos Cultural Center, as it is considered that "it is important to disseminate John Dos Passos’ works and memory further and, at the same time, encourage literary production and historical and literary research. The institution of a literary award dedicated to the aforementioned author is an appropriate and effective means to do so".
Thus, in the Historical or Literary Essay Category, the 4th edition of the Prize (2019) was awarded to the work O Século dos Prodígios - A Ciência no Portugal da Expansão, by Onésimo Teotónio Almeida.
In 2021, the winner of the 5th Edition of the John Dos Passos Prize in the Literary Category – Fiction Prose (Novel or Short Story Anthology) was Oração a que faltam joelhos, by Jacinto Lucas Pires.
The winner of this year's edition, 2023, the 6th of the John Dos Passos Prize, dedicated to the Historical or Literary Essay Category, was Portugal na História - Uma Identidade (2022), by João Paulo Oliveira e Costa.
The 2025 edition, the 7th of the John Dos Passos Prize, will once again be dedicated to the Literary Category – Fiction Prose (Novel or Short Story Anthology).
Administrative Supervision:
Regional Directorate for Culture
Coordinator:
Bernardo de Vasconcelos
Address:
Rua do Príncipe D. Luís, n.º 3
9360-218 Ponta do Sol
Telephone:
(+351) 291 974 034
Website:
https://cultura.madeira.gov.pt/centro-cultural-john-dos-passos
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday from 9a.m. to 12.30p.m. and from 14p.m. to 17.30p.m.
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Weekly Suggestion: Setember 19th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. Setember 15th | 09:00 pm. DIAS EM CHAMAS. BY EMIN ALPER. WITH Selahattin Pasali, Ekin Koç, Erol Babaoglu. 2022 | TURQUIA, FRANÇA, ALEMANHA, HOLANDA | M/14...
Weekly Suggestion: Setember 12th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: Setember 5th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: August 29th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Weekly Suggestion: August 22th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Weekly Suggestion: August 15th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: August 8th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: August 1st, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: June 25th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: June 18th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: June 11th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: June 4th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Weekly Suggestion: June 27th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: June 20th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
This Tuesday, June 13th, at 7:30 pm, in the Auditorium of the John Dos Passos Cultural Center, there will be performances by drum and piano students from the Casa Povo da Ponta do Sol Music...
Weekly Suggestion: June 13th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Avesso and ADBRAVA presents "Viveram Amigos para Sempre", a play with Cenas do Avesso, Pequenos Avessos and Bravinhas à frente das Cortinas. June 10th and 11th.
Weekly Suggestion: June 6th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: May 30th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. May 26th | 09:00 pm. "TODA A BELEZA E A CARNIFICINA". BY JOÃO LAURA POITRAS. WITH Nan Goldin, Marina Berio, David Armstrong. 2022 | EUA | M/14 | 2H...
Weekly Suggestion: May 23h, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Weekly Suggestion: May 16th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. May 12th | 09:00 pm. "CAMPO DE SANGUE". BY JOÃO MÁRIO GRILO. WITH Carloto Cotta, Luísa Cruz, Sara Carinhas, Teresa Madruga, Fernanda...
Weekly Suggestion: May 9th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. May 5th | 09:00 pm. "A NOIVA". BY SÉRGIO TRÉFAUT. WITH Joana Bernardo, Hugo Bentes, Lola Dueñas. 2022 | M/12 | 81...
Weekly Suggestion: May 02nd, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. April 28th | 09:00 pm. "A CHIARA". BY JONAS CARPIGNANO. WITH Grecia Rotolo, Swamy Rotolo, Silvana Palumbo, Claudio...
Weekly Suggestion: April 25th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. April 21th | 09:00 pm. "QUI RIDO IO". BY MARIO MARTONE. WITH Toni Servillo, Maria Nazionale, Cristiana Dell’Anna.
Weekly Suggestion: April 18th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. April 14th | 09:00 pm. "LINGUI". BY MAHAMAT-SALEH HAROUN. WITH Achouackh Abakar Souleymane, Rihane Khalil Alio, Youssouf...
Weekly Suggestion: April 11th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: April 4th, 2023. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. March 31th | 09:00 pm. "AFTERSUN". BY CHARLOTTE WELLS. WITH Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall, Sally...
Weekly Suggestion: March 28th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: March 21th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. March 17th | 09:00 pm. "NOSTALGIA". BY MARIO MARTONE. WITH Pierfrancesco Favino, Francesco Di Leva, Tommaso Ragno
Clipping Open applications to John Dos Passos Literary Award in Diário de Notícias da Madeira, March 15th, 2023.
Weekly Suggestion: March 7th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos...
Oficina D'Arfet Teatre, from Casa do Povo de Mahico presents "Dorme Devagar", a play that promotes reflection on the role of women. To see this weekend at the John dos Passos Cultural Centre,...
Clipping. JM-Madeira, 03-03-2023. The Oficina D'Arfet Teatro, da Casa do Povo de Mahico presents "Dorme Devagar", that promotes reflection on the role of women.
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. March 10th | 09:00 pm. "PETER VON KANT". BY FRANÇOIS OZON. COM Denis Ménochet, Isabelle Adjani, Hanna Schygulla.
Weekly Suggestion: March 7th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in...
Weekly Suggestion: February 28th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos Passos. March 3th | 09:00 pm. "POET", BY DAREZHAN OMIRBAYEV. WITH Aida Abdurakhman, Klara Kabylgazina, Yerdos Kanaev.
Weekly Suggestion: February 21th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos PassosFebruary 24th | 09:00 pm Leila’s Brothers, de Saeed Roustaee With Taraneh Alidoosti, Saeed Poursamimi, Navid Mohammadzadeh, Payman MaadiIran, 2022,...
Weekly Suggestion: February 14th, 2022. EVERY TUESDAY. AN AUTHOR - A WORK. With Literary Tuesday project, we present titles available at the Dr. Carmo da Cunha Santos Library, in John dos Passos...
Cinema @Centro Cultural John Dos PassosFebruary 17th | 09:00 pm With Bulle Ogier, Issa Perica, Alice Houri, Mati Diop, Bruno Podalydes, Lola Creton, Richard CourcetFRANCE - 2022 - 117' -...