Founded in 2009 by the hand of Paulo Reis, Carpe Diem Art and Research (CDAP) is a center for contemporary art based in Pombal Palace, a seventeenth-century building. In addition to an eclectic exhibition program, consisting of national and international artists, CDAP also promotes parallel activities such as conferences, masterclasses, talks with artists, an educational programme, workshops and guided tours targeted to different audiences.

CDAP proposes new directions in the curatorial praxis, assuming itself as an innovative center for contemporary artistic and cultural production in Lisbon. Its exhibition programmes are based on artistic residencies where the Palace, its architecture, ambience and marks left by the various uses, exerts a strong influence on the creative process, resulting in exhibitions of site-specific works.

As a curatorial and artistic experimentation platform, CDAP aims at promoting contemporary cultural production, the preservation of heritage and its importance in the development of new artistic languages as well as the creation of a multidisciplinary network for the visual arts. As a non-profit organization, CDAP relies on a solid network of collaborators, volunteers and also the support of other cultural entities. The interest of this project has been recognized by the Secretary of State for Culture, since October of 2013, for the purpose of Cultural Patronage, may qualify for grants under the Patronage Act. The cultural interest of this project has been recognized by the Secretary of State for Culture, since October of 2013, for the purpose of Cultural Patronage, and may now benefit from donations under the Portuguese Tax Incentives Statute.