The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has granted financial support designed to ensure the launching and running of the recently set up Refugee Support Platform. The Platform brings together over a hundred institutions and social partners from civil societies and that seeks to contribute to efforts designed to cope with the largest flow of refugees and migrants since World War Two and that is correspondingly driving a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions. Coordinated by Rui Marques, President of the Padre António Vieira Institute, this Platform contributes, through a collaborative and interrelated model, with immediate responses for the hosting of refugees and complementing the actions of the state.

Solidarity Concert

In addition to this support, the Foundation is hosting a solidarity concert on 18th October, at 7pm in the Grand Auditorium featuring both the Gulbenkian Choir and Orchestra to raise further funds for the platform. The Orchestra, along with Pavel Gomziakov, will play the Concert for the Cello and Orchestra in C Major by Joseph Haydn. The Russian cellist will also play Suite No. 2 in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach on a rare Stradivarius, one of the jewels in the crown of the Music Museum collection, which is also signing up to this initiative. Built in 1725, this valuable instrument once belonged to King Luís and was categorised as a National Treasure in 2006.

The Gulbenkian Choir, conducted by lead maestro Michel Corboz, will perform a program entirely dedicated to Bach, featuring the participation of Fernando Miguel Jalôto (organ), Raquel Reis (cello) and Manuel Rego (double bass). All performers are appearing pro bono.

Throughout this day, visitors to the Gulbenkian Museum and the Centre of Modern Art may also make a contribution to supporting the work of the platform by voluntarily paying their exhibition entrance tickets given that, as a Sunday, entry is otherwise free of charge.