Welcome to PATH – Artes e Cultura

It is a pleasure to welcome you to this new chapter and to introduce PATH – Artes e Cultura. This organization was born from a simple but enduring idea: that art and culture flourish most fully when people are invited to gather, to learn, and to create together. PATH exists to cultivate those moments of connection.

My own path into this work began in an unexpected way. Before becoming an artist, I spent a decade working in the nonprofit sector in the United States, most recently as the Director of Development and Communication for College Possible Washington. When the 2020 lockdown shifted life and work into a remote reality, I began painting between meetings and late into the evenings. What started as watercolours soon evolved into the abstract swipe paintings that many of you now know. As my artistic practice grew, so did a community around it, and I eventually stepped away from full-time nonprofit work to dedicate myself fully to art.

In 2021, I moved to Portugal. Living and creating here has offered space for reflection on how my artistic life and my nonprofit experience might come together in a meaningful way. Over the past few years, people visiting Portugal have often asked whether I host retreats, offer workshops, or have a studio space open to the public. At the same time, I noticed something significant: while Lisbon and Porto have vibrant cultural programming, there remains a clear need for accessible, high-quality arts experiences in the central region.

PATH was founded to meet this need.

Drawing on my background in nonprofit management and development, PATH aims to serve as a cultural bridge—bringing together artists, families, visitors, and the broader community through creative education and artistic engagement. Our mission is to foster artistic practice, support cultural exchange, and contribute to the vitality of the region through workshops, exhibitions, retreats, and collaborative programmes. We believe in the power of creativity not only as personal expression but as a shared cultural experience that strengthens community life.

This organization begins with a simple conviction: art should be inviting, accessible, and rooted in place. Central Portugal, with its history, landscapes, and strong sense of community, is an extraordinary environment in which to build this vision.

Thank you for joining me at the beginning of this journey. I look forward to welcoming you to our future workshops, programs, and events—and to building PATH into a meaningful cultural home for all who walk through its doors.