Blue Creativity: Exploring the Hidden Water of Porto
About the Initiative
This initiative is part of the Blue Creativity project, integrated in the World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW) 2025 (wciw.org), a global event that highlights the power of creativity in addressing contemporary challenges.
Inspired by the relationship between water, the city, and artistic expression, this experience invites participants on a journey to discover the hidden presence of water in Porto, blending history, design, and graphic experimentation.
Purpose
To promote an immersive experience that combines urban exploration and artistic expression, raising awareness of the hidden presence of water in Porto and encouraging new ways of perceiving and representing the city. Through a guided tour and a creative workshop, participants will be invited to reinterpret and visualise the city’s water geography, contributing to a collective project aligned with the spirit of Blue Creativity and WCIW 2025.
Format
📍 Location: Porto – Foz and Mindshake House
📅 Duration: 1 day of in-person activities (morning + afternoon) + 1 week of artistic production by the designers
🎟 Fee: €56 – An accessible price covering basic logistics and material costs
👥 Limited places: 20 participants only, to ensure an immersive and participatory experience
📌 Key Dates and their Relevance in WCIW 2025:
• 15 April: Birthdate of Leonardo da Vinci and official launch of the World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW). The workshop takes place on this day as a tribute to multidisciplinary creativity.
• 21 April: World Creativity & Innovation Day – closing day of WCIW. On this day, the final printed artwork, created by designers TINA, will be delivered to each participant. This date, recognised by the UN, is dedicated to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning creativity as a driver for a sustainable future.
⚠️ Note: Participants from the 15 April event will not take part in the risograph printing process. After the workshop, the TINA team will create a final artistic product using risography, based on the collective creations. The result will be handed to each participant on 21 April.
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Programme
Morning:
Guided Tour with Joel Cleto – The Hidden Water of Porto
• Tour led by historian Joel Cleto through key areas of Porto, close to Mindshake House – Rua das Motas, 102, Foz. Meeting point to be confirmed.
• Exploration of urban elements connected to water: old washhouses, wells, underground streams, and other historical traces.
• Reflection on the impact of water on the city’s structure and cultural narratives.
Afternoon:
Creative Workshop at Mindshake House
• Facilitated by the Mindshake team, design studio TIN*A (Elias Marques and Sérgio Correia), and illustrator Tina Siuda
• Graphic and artistic experimentation on historical and contemporary maps of Porto, focusing on watercourses
• Use of mixed media techniques with accessible materials to reinterpret the city’s water geography and its impacts
Post-Workshop: Artistic Production in Risography
• In the following week, designers TIN*A will work at the Not So Fast Press risograph studio to create the final artistic product (poster, zine, or reinterpreted map)
• Each participant will receive a copy of the final piece as a memory of the experience. The handover will take place on 21 April, during an exhibition/celebration at Mindshake House from 6 PM onwards
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Impact and Target Audience
• Individuals interested in art, design, urban history, and sustainability
• Professionals and students in design, illustration, urbanism, and archaeology
• Anyone curious about new ways of experiencing and engaging creatively with the city
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What’s included in the registration fee?
The fee mainly covers the initiative’s core costs and includes:
✔️ Exclusive guided tour with Joel Cleto, historian and expert on the city of Porto
✔️ Access to the creative workshop at Mindshake House, facilitated by Mindshake and designers TINA
✔️ All materials for artistic experimentation, including maps, inks, tools, and supports
✔️ One unique artistic piece per participant (poster, zine or reinterpretation of a map), created by TINA using the risograph technique
✔️ Opportunities for sharing and networking with professionals from design, illustration, urbanism, and history
✔️ Coffee break and a stimulating atmosphere at Mindshake House
- Start: 15 March 2025
- End: 21 March 2025
- Attendance: In Person
- Location: Rua das Motas 102, Porto, Portugal
