The new Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon recently selected architect and writer Pedro Gadanho as its first Artistic Director. Gadanho is leaving his post as a curator in MoMA's Department of Architecture and Design, which he's held since 2012 – a relatively quick departure for such a high-status role. He will start at MAAT in October of this year, working to define the museum's cultural program, which aims to be "an exciting contemporary programme at the intersection of art, architecture and technology."

At MoMA, Gadanho worked alongside Senior Curators Martino Stierli (current) and Barry Bergdoll (former) as MoMA put out exhibitions like Tactical Urbanisms. He is already a respected entity in Portugal, having curated the Portugal Pavilion for the 2004 Venice Biennale, as well as numerous other local exhibitions. He holds an architecture degree and a PhD in Architecture and Mass Media from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP), as well as an MA in Art and Architecture from the Kent Institute of Art and Design.

The new museum will be designed by architect Amanda Levete, and will include renovated facilities from the existing Central Tejo power station in Lisbon. The museum is owned by the EDP Foundation, Energias de Portugal, which examines environmental and energy issues.

h/t to Público's Portuguese coverage of this news.