NOVA University of Lisbon inaugurates on September 10 the NOVA Mafra Hub – Music, Art and Technology, a new space for research, training, technological innovation and artistic creation. The hub is installed in the South Tower of the National Palace of Mafra, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019, benefiting from a unique heritage context, given that the National Museum of Music operates in the same building and the installation of the National Sound Archive in Mafra is planned.
The Hub was created in partnership with the Municipality of Mafra and has its roots in music, being part of the Institute of Art and Technology (IAT) at NOVA University of Lisbon. Its origins lie in CESEM – Centre for Music Studies and INET-md – Institute of Ethnomusicology, research centres at NOVA FCSH dedicated to musical studies. In Mafra, the Musical Acoustics Laboratory, the Musical Computing Laboratory and the HEDGE Lab are now operating, the latter dedicated to the application of digital technologies to the documentation, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.
Paulo Pereira, rector of NOVA University of Lisbon, states that in the Royal Building of Mafra a heritage with centuries of history finds new ways to be studied, preserved, listened to and recreated, underscoring that music is simultaneously heritage and creation. Hugo Moreira Luís, mayor of the Municipality of Mafra, considers the project a strategic step that honors Mafra's historical identity as a municipality deeply connected to music, by linking local musical heritage with digital innovation and scientific research.
