Museum of Sound and Image

Part of the network of museums in the municipality of Vila Real, the Museum of Sound and Image arose out of the need to preserve the important archive of the old Avenida Theatre, which had been in the City Council’s possession since 1999. This initial collection has been joined, meanwhile, by many acquired items, as well as items donated or deposited by institutions and private collectors.
 
The museum collection is spread over seven rooms (with several interactive sections), devoted successively to the first theatre in Vila Real (from 1846), the Circus Theatre (from 1892), the Avenida Theatre (from 1930), the history of photography, the history of the cinema and to temporary exhibitions.
 
Alongside the exhibitions, the Museum of Sound and Image has an Education Department and an audiovisual archive, and regularly runs different initiatives under the auspices of its complementary programme, from publishing to the hosting of contemporary arts projects.