MUDAS is the contemporary art museum of Madeira, on the hillside above Calheta on the south-west coast of the island. It shows Portuguese and international contemporary art in temporary exhibitions, so the programme changes and what is on the walls depends on the date. The galleries run through several linked buildings of dark concrete set into the slope, with wide openings onto the ocean. There is a restaurant beside the museum. People come as much for the building and the views as for the art.
MUDAS - Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira
From the road the museum is almost invisible — a low line of dark concrete on the hillside; the galleries and the ocean views only appear once you are inside the grounds.
- Entrance
- Admission is charged, a few euros. Cash only — cards are not accepted.
- Accessibility
- Step-free entrance, wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible toilet.
- Parking
- Parking at the museum, free and paid spaces. A free public car park lies about 170 m from the entrance.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stop: Calheta Escola, about 85 m from the museum.
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30–13:00 and 14:00–17:30. Closed on Sunday and Monday.
What makes it special
MUDAS keeps opening up as you walk through it. Rooms give onto other rooms, the levels step down the hillside, and the ocean appears through wide openings from inside the galleries. The building is dark concrete, low and angular, and the site holds several linked buildings rather than one block.
The art is Portuguese and international contemporary work, shown as temporary exhibitions. The Madeiran artist Rigo 23 has been shown here. Some of the work is deliberately awkward — video, installation, pieces assembled from junk — and it will not suit everyone. The architecture and the views do not depend on the programme.
Good to know
- Cash only. Card payments are not taken at the museum. Bring euros in cash.
- Check what is on before you go. Between exhibitions much of the museum is closed while the next show is installed.
- The restaurant closes too. When the museum is between exhibitions, the restaurant beside it shuts as well.
- Toilets on site, and the museum is suitable for children.
Getting there
Almost everyone arrives by car. MUDAS stands above the coast at Calheta and is easy to drive past: from the road it reads as a low concrete wall rather than a museum. There is parking at the site, and a free public car park about 170 m from the entrance. From there you walk in across the museum grounds, and the entrance itself is step-free.
Best time to visit
Better: a wet or windy day. The museum is entirely indoors, and the building is worth the trip on its own.
Avoid: the changeover between exhibitions, when large parts of the museum and the restaurant are shut.
The programme is temporary exhibitions, so what you see depends on the date. Check the current show before making a special trip out here.
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Frequently asked questions
What is on show at MUDAS?
Portuguese and international contemporary art, in temporary exhibitions spread across several linked buildings. The Madeiran artist Rigo 23 has been shown here. There is no permanent display to fall back on, so the programme decides what you see.Is the whole museum always open?
No. Between exhibitions much of the museum is closed while the next show is installed, and admission has been free at such times. Check that the museum is fully open before making a special trip.Can I pay by card?
No. The museum takes cash only, so bring euros with you.Is there anywhere to eat?
There is a restaurant next to the museum. It closes when the museum is between exhibitions, so do not count on a coffee if the galleries are being changed over.Is it a good place to bring children?
Yes. The museum is suitable for children and there are toilets on site. The exhibitions are contemporary art rather than anything designed for children.