Janet Cardiff, a Canadian artist recognised for her immersive multimedia sound installations alongside George Bures Miller, has written a powerful letter to support the campaign opposing the conversion of this sacred 17th-century site.
Her message is crystal-clear: the Monastery must be protected. It is not a relic, but a living space for public art. "The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova should be recognized as a national treasure and elevated to a cultural center," Cardiff writes. "My work has taken me to nearly a hundred museums and cultural spaces across the globe. Yet none have moved me like the Monastery of Santa Clara…. This is not just another old building. It is a living archive of culture, memory, and spirit."
Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, The Infinity Machine, 2015. Courtesy the artists.
Cardiff became aware of the conversion plans during her preparations for an exhibition there with George Bures Miller entitled "The Factory of Shadows", currently on view at the Monastery until 5 July 2025.
But this is not just about Coimbra, or a single building. It touches on a wider debate about the future of cultural heritage in Europe, about whether historic spaces should serve the public or be reserved for the wealthy. Cardiff warns: "Such spaces are vanishing across the world. To preserve one is not merely an act of conservation — it is a duty."
Exterior of the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra, Portugal. Credit: © Jorge das Neves. Courtesy of Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra.
Cardiff’s letter calls for international awareness before an irreversible decision is made. She concludes her statement by saying: "For the sake of Coimbra, for the sake of art, and for the generations still to come, let us make the right choice."
Cover image: Exterior of the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra, Portugal. Credit: © Juan Rodriguez. Courtesy of Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra.
