1907 > 2023
1907
Establishment of the Fábrica de Lápis Portugália, by Conselheiro Figueiredo Faria and Engineer Jules Cacheux, in Vila do Conde.
1929/31
Bankruptcy of Portugália and its acquisition by Manoel Vieira Araújo.
1936
Registration of the Viarco brand (Vieira Araújo e Companhia, Lda).
1941
Relocation of the pencil factory from Vila do Conde to São João da Madeira.
1972
Beginning of the production of crayons.
1978
Registration of the company Viarco Industria de Lápis, Lda.
1990
Discovery of the watercolour graphite, by António José Vieira Araújo Araújo in a partnership with José Emídio.
1991
Division of the company Vieira Araújo & Cª Lda. in two companies, Viarco and Vieira Araújo.
2001
Release of Viarco’s website.
2006
“Viarco 70 anos”exhibition, in a partnership with Maus Hábitos.
“O Espírito do Lugar”exhibition, by Pascal Nordmann, in a partnership with the Art Centre of São João da Madeira.
Beginning of the Viarco Express, project, in a partnership with Maus Hábitos.
Exhibition and reedition of old packages, in a partnership with “A Vida Portuguesa”.
Drawing Experience exhibition, in a partnership with the Designer Miguel Vieira Baptista.
“Riscos e Rabiscos“exhibition, at the Municipal Library of Carnaxide, Oeiras.
2007
Registration of the ArtGraf brand.
Beginning of the ArtGraf watercolour graphite production.
Participation at the Cerveira Biennial “100 Anos do fabrico de lápis em Portugal”.
“Linhas Marcadas” exhibition, Municipal Library of Caldas da Rainha.
Release of the book “Histórias do Lápis Mágico” at the International Comics Festival, Amadora.
2008
Opening of Viarco’s Atelier, with Ricardo Pistola and Pedro Alves.
Beginning of the partnership with ESEIG with the Viarco awards.
2009
Release of the ArtGraf XL Drawing Graphite Stick, watercolour pencils boxes Silkscreen Series and Magneto’s pencils.
Extension of the ArtGraf range. First international experience under the Viarco and ArtGraf brands at Tent London.
“Atelier Viarco” exhibition, led by Ricardo Pistola with the participation of Mafalda Santos and Mariana Moraes, in a partnership with Maus Hábitos.
First public presentation of the Viarco Express project, at the Museu da Presidência da República.
Participation in the Experimenta Design ‘EXD09’.
Artistic Residence of Diogo Pimentão.
2010
Release of the Turn it pencil, authorship of Miguel Soeiro, selected at the POP’s from Serralves.
Participation in Zona Tortona at the Milan Design Week.
Release of Viarco’s Online Store.
Beginning of the partnership with ColorADD, and release of the first pencil box with colour identification code for the colourblind.
Exhibition “Marcas de Identidade – Desenho de uma Indústria” promoted and held by the Museu da Chapelaria, S. João da Madeira.
Viarco Express exhibition at Torre da Oliva, S. João da Madeira.
Destination Portugal selected products to sale at the MoMA, New York.
Article publication about Viarco products in Monocle magazine.
2011
Viarco’s transition to the 4th generation of the family.
Release of the Stenced Pencils, Break to Sharpen, and Dummy pencils, selected at the POP’s from Serralves.
Beginning of Viarco and ArtGraf brands’ distribution in the United States.
Participation in the Ordem de Compra – O Design e a Indústria Portugueses na Economia Actualexhibition, held by Experimenta Design.
“Viarco Express” exhibition at the Almeida Garrett Library in Porto.
Article publication about Viarco products in Wallpaper magazine.
2012
Beginning of the project Turismo Industrial de S. João da Madeira.
Official visit from Mr. President of Republic, Professor Aníbal Cavaco Silva.
Artistic Residence from Richard Câmara and Marco Moreira, in a partnership with the city council of São João da Madeira.
Release of the VHILS, coloured pencils box, numbered and signed edition, in a partnership with Montana Shop.
Documentary “Marcas com História” at KBS 1, South Korean TV channel.
2013
First participation at the Paperworld in Frankfurt with Viarco’s own space.
Beginning of the Viarco and ArtGraf brands’ distribution at the Asian and Australian markets.
‘Viarco – Traços para o Futuro’ exhibition, in Museu Municipal de Penafiel.
‘Viarco – Traços para o Futuro’exhibition, in the Experimenta Design ‘EXD13’.
2014
Release of the ArtGraf Tailor Shape in earth tones.
Opening of the Viarco Gallery in the Art District da Cidadela de Cascais, with the “Viarco – Traços para o Futuro” exhibition.
‘Viarco – Traços para o Futuro’ exhibition in the Centro de Artes de Sines.
Exhibition ‘40 Anos sem censura?’ and screening of the film ‘Lápis Azul’ by Rafael Antunes in Paços da Cultura em S. João da Madeira.
‘Viarco – Traços da Liberdade’ exhibition embedded in the Imaginarius festival, Sta. Maria da Feira.
‘Traços da Liberdade’ exhibition in a partnership with Partners and ‘40 Anos sem censura?’ exhibition in the Viarco Gallery, Cidadela de Cascais.
Finalist with ColorADD in the Co-Criação project for a more inclusive society in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Open day Viarco, with the closing of the Viarco Express project, meeting of Urban Sketchers, and concert of the Creative Orchestra from Sta. Maria da Feira.
‘Under Construction’ exhibition by Ricardo Pistola in the Viarco Gallery, Cidadela de Cascais.
‘Viarco – Traços para o Futuro’ exhibition in the Municipal Museum of Vale de Cambra.
2015
Release of the ArtGraf Watercolour Graphite Powder.
Article publication about Viarco products in Icon magazine.
‘A Century Design Project’ exhibition in Seoul, South Korea.
Release of the ArtGraf Nº1 Graphite Putty.
Artistic Residence from the collective “Tempos de Vista” and “Circuitos de Repetição” exhibition, in a partnership with Oliva Creative Factory.
2016
“Made in Portugal” exhibition with the ColorADD, at the Design and Fashion Museum, Lisbon.
Companhia Persona presentation of Azert, concert/performance at Viarco, as part of the 4th anniversary of Turismo Industrial
Article publication about Viarco in Slantedmagazine.
Artistic Residence from the Morphe collective, in a partnership with Oliva Creative Factory.
[D] IN – Design na Inovação Industrialexhibition, Viarco’s example, at Oliva Creative Factory.
Transmission of the second episode of the 10th season of the program Isto é Matemática, recorded at Viarco and presented by Rogério Martins.
Interview with José Vieira on the RTP Network Business III program.
Photographic exhibition of Joaquim Leal under the theme Viarco, at Loja Deleme Janelas, Oporto.
2017
Launching of the Morphe, Una, Dupla and Nora drawing tools and the Viarco Vintage Collection box, reissue of 6 packs from the 50s/60s.
Viarco selected in the Raw Bible, a manifesto of quality, passion and craftmanship, published in Germany, brings together 101 raw brands that preserve its history.
Exhibition “Rainha das Cores” at Viarco in partnership with Bichinho do Conto.
Workshop “Multidisciplinary Innovation Projects”,in partnership with ESMAD and NTU.
Exhibition”Viarco Express” at Museu Alberto Sampaio, Guimarães.
Transmission of the Viarco episode in the “Fabrico Nacional” program of RTP1.
First participation at Maison Et Objet in Paris with the presentation of the RISKO Drawing Desk in prototype phase.
Presentation of the RISKO prototype at the London Design Fair, with Associative Design.
2018
Launch of the RISKO Drawing Desk V1 at Creativeworld in Frankfurt.
Presentation of RISKO at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in Stockholm, with Associative Design.
The ArtGraf and Viarco products as a support for “48H a Desenhar”, at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Interview with José Vieira about Viarco on the Portugal Ventures platform.
Participation at the 12th Drawing Now Art Fair in Paris.
Transmission of the 13th episode Literatura Aqui IV about the Poetry to the Table that counted with the participation of the employees of Viarco, in RTP2.
Presentation of RISKO at Milan Design Week in Brera Design District, Milan, with Associative Design.
Exhibition “Debaixo da Pele, o Desenho” of Agostinho Santos at Viarco factory.
2019
Launch of the CMSJM + VIARCO Garden Benches in the Municipality of São João da Madeira.
Expansion of Viarco’s exhibition space at Creativeworld, Frankfurt, Germany, marking the company’s seventh consecutive participation.
RISKO receives a Special Mention at the German Design Awards in the Excellent Product Design – Office Furniture category.
Artist residency by Beatriz Manteigas, visual artist and founder of Quinta das Relvas, at the Viarco Studio.
Talk at Avenida Café-Concerto, Aveiro, as part of TALK – Informal Meeting of Illustrators.
Artist residency and exhibition Multiplied Drawing, featuring Aglaíze Damasceno, Clara Sampaio, Rita Gaspar Vieira, and Marcelo Forte, at the Viarco Studio.
Visit by Graça Fonseca, Minister of Culture, and Jorge Sequeira, Mayor of São João da Madeira, during the Poesia à Mesa festival.
ArtGraf and Viarco products workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Opening of the Viarco Space at the 3rd Gaia International Art Biennial.
Talk at INOV DESIGN, Viana do Castelo.
Artist residency by Irene González, winner of the previous year’s New Drawing Talent Award, organised by Drawing Room.
Collaboration on the Onda Amarela Project, presented as part of the HAT WEEKEND festival.
Artist residency by Carolina Dubert, recipient of the Young Creator of Aveiro Award.
Artist residency by Thinking Graphite, a collective of artists from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Third participation in Maison & Objet, Paris.
Promotional film for RISKO, produced by Tormenta Filmes in collaboration with Viarco.
Under the Skin, a drawing workshop organised by the Aveiro Association of Architects.
Connections Between Design and Industry, exhibition of Viarco products at the Porto Design Biennale.
Talk at the YETI Illustration Festival, Branca, exploring the professional practice of illustrators and artists.
Second participation in Drawing Room Lisboa.
Matias Ercole (Argentina) receives the New Drawing Talent Award, presented by Viarco and Drawing Room.
Visit by the invited artists participating in the 12th International Illustration Meeting in São João da Madeira.
ArtGraf workshop at the Olmar Megastore, Porto.
Creation of the Drawing Square at CONCRETA, Exponor.
15 Minutes of Humour – O Gargalhão visits the Viarco factory.
ArtGraf and Viarco products workshop at L. Cornelissen & Son, London, United Kingdom.
Certification of FSC® and PEFC™ chain-of-custody standards for the use of responsibly sourced wood.
ArtGraf participates in OLYMPIART IWS, the international watercolour gathering held in New Delhi, India.
Talk at Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge, United Kingdom, featuring a conversation between artists.
Completion of the Norte 2020 Innovation and Productivity Project.
2020
Days of Remembrance of Industry in São João da Madeira, a project collecting testimonies from former workers of the footwear industry, Oliva, and Viarco.
Launch of the OVA and PONTA product lines at Creativeworld, Frankfurt, Germany.
Temporary suspension of production at Viarco as a preventive measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with work continuing remotely.
Feature on Portuguese companies published in Cristina Magazine.
50 Hours of Drawing at the Viarco Studio, organised by the Artists of Gaia.
Viarco summer workshops for children up to 14 years of age, held throughout July.
Origin exhibition by Xavier, following the artist’s residency at the Viarco Studio.
Artist residencies by Daniel Moreira, Rita Castro Neves, Ana Pérez-Quiroga, and António Olaio at the Viarco Studio.
Presentation of the film Um Ensaio Fotofílmico (A Photofilmic Essay), by Miguel Gaspar, produced during an artist residency at Viarco, at the Alexander Trauner Art/Film Festival in Budapest, Hungary.
Artist residency by José Rosinhas at the Viarco Studio.
Participation in Drawing Room Lisboa, where Ana Romãozinho receives the New Drawing Talent Award.
Opening of the Works2020 exhibition by Meireles de Pinho at Viarco.
Drawing course at the Viarco Studio, led by Beatriz Manteigas with academic supervision by Artur Ramos, both from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon and the Research and Studies Centre in Fine Arts (CIEBA).
2021
Television feature on Viarco in Empresas Centenárias (Centenary Companies), produced by SIC/OPTO.
Artist residency by José Rosinhas, culminating in an exhibition at the Viarco factory showcasing the work developed during his residency.
Participation in the 4th Gaia International Art Biennial, featuring works by a selection of artists who had previously undertaken residencies at the Viarco Studio.
Public presentation of the final outcomes of the Memórias para Todos (Memories for All) project, dedicated to documenting and researching the industrial history of São João da Madeira.
Viarco becomes even greener, with approximately 55% of the factory’s energy consumption supplied by solar power.
Launch of Industrial Tourism visits to the Viarco factory.
English translation of The Stories of the Magic Pencil, made available as a digital PDF publication.
Launch of the Love is Love! pencil collection.
Artist residencies by Ana Fonseca and Cristina Ataíde at the Viarco Studio.
Launch of the Nós os Loucos (We, the Mad Ones) project across four mental health institutions: Conde de Ferreira Hospital Centre, Magalhães Lemos Hospital, São João de Deus Healthcare Centre, and São José Healthcare Centre, in partnership with Manicómio and Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto.
Second edition of the Viarco Workshops for children up to 14 years of age, held throughout July.
Final YETI exhibition at Viarco, part of the artistic programme organised by Associação Quinta das Relvas, bringing together emerging Portuguese and international illustrators.
Artist residency by Alexandra Rafael, André Silva, Cláudia Lopes, Francisco Venâncio, and Joana BC, culminating in the public open day Everything Happens, Everything Is Funny…, presenting the work developed during the residency.
Participation in Drawing Room Lisboa, where Guillermo de Folcaut receives the New Drawing Talent Award.
Artist residency by illustrator Constança Araújo Amador at the Viarco Studio.
Final exhibition Raw Material: Drawing for a New Megalithism, by Constança Araújo Amador.
2022
Launch of the Banco de Lápis (Pencil Bench) box set, a miniature replica of the pencil benches installed throughout São João da Madeira, developed in partnership with Industrial Tourism.
Launch of the Tribute to Steel Brush box set, a limited edition of 100 units created in collaboration with Speedball USA.
Opening of the first exhibition resulting from the Nós os Loucos (We, the Mad Ones) project. Trabalho Emprego Artista Pintor (Work Employment Artist Painter) opens at the Gothic Hall of Barcelos Town Hall.
Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Industrial Tourism in São João da Madeira, featuring a programme of special activities.
To the Rhythm of the Machines, a concert by the Orquestra Criativa SMF, held at the Viarco factory.
Opening of the exhibition Filhos da Escola (Children of the School), reflecting on education and citizenship, at Viarco.
Artist residencies by Cláudia Guerreiro, exploring graphite, and Gwendolyn Van Der Velden, focusing on watercolour, with the support of OCF.
Expansion of the Viarco Summer Workshops, with the Centro de Arte Oliva joining as partner and co-organiser. Throughout the afternoons of July, participants explored drawing, animation, painting, comics, and other artistic techniques.
Artist residencies by Elisa Salas, from Mexico, and Guillermo de Foucault, winner of the New Drawing Talent Award at Drawing Room Lisboa, both working at the Viarco Studio.
Viarco and the ArtGraf range are featured in the United States publication ArtSupplies – Encyclopedia of Inspiration, with a dedicated four-page feature.
Composition, a performance and conversation centred on artistic practice, including the presentation of the book Drawing Mechanisms, documenting the creative process of Meireles de Pinho.
Artist residencies by Sofia Castro, Diogo Pimentão, Mariana Clemente, and Nora Herman at the Viarco Studio.
Following research in Portugal on the Nós os Loucos project, Dr Son Heyjoo presents the workshop Media as a Tool of Self-Understanding in South Korea.
Artist residencies by Bruno Novaes and Rosilene Fontes, visiting from São Paulo, Brazil.
Participation in the Ibero-American Congress on Conservation and Restoration Research, held at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon.
As part of the Sons no Património (Sounds in Heritage) programme promoted by the Porto Metropolitan Area, the musical project STRAY performs at Viarco, accompanied by a night-time factory tour.
Participation in Drawing Room Lisboa, where António Neves Nobre receives the New Drawing Talent Award.
Publication of Drawing Mechanisms, a book dedicated to the working process of artist Meireles de Pinho, developed from the exhibition Meireles de Pinho: Works 2020.
As part of the São João da Madeira Illustration Meeting, Viarco welcomes the Urban Sketchers Norte community to the factory.
Launch of the Saturno Sharpener, reviving the story of an iconic product that began in Brazil, continued in Portugal, and is now ready to begin a new chapter.
2023
The Hats of the Puppets, a special puppet performance by Rui Sousa presented at the Viarco factory as part of the 11th Anniversary of Industrial Tourism in São João da Madeira.
Return to the leading international trade fair with participation in Creativeworld 2023, Frankfurt, Germany.
Reception of Poesia nas Fábricas (Poetry in the Factories), as part of the Poesia à Mesa poetry week in São João da Madeira.
Expansion across the Atlantic with participation in the NAMTA Show, Columbus, USA, marking Viarco’s first presentation in support of its American distributor.
Participation in the 5th Gaia International Art Biennial, presenting the concept Art and the Digital – Between the Ephemeral and the Eternal.
Participation in the 11th International Urban Sketchers Symposium in New Zealand, hosting a watercolour workshop using ArtGraf No. 1 mass, led by Kiah Kieran.
Launch of a collaborative project by A Vida Portuguesa and singer Carminho, bringing together several Portuguese brands, including Viarco.
Visit by the international collectors’ group Lapices del Mundo, featuring the restoration of a giant pencil at the Viarco factory.
Feature on Viarco in the June issue of Monocle Magazine, with text by Gaia Lutz and photography by Matilde Viegas.
Return residency at the Viarco Studio by Italian artist Silvia Pallini.
Viarco Artistic Exploration Workshops for children and young people, held throughout July in partnership with the Centro de Arte Oliva.
Demonstration workshop of Viarco and ArtGraf products at the School of Art, Architecture and Design in Guimarães.
Publication in the Yearbook of Lettering, featuring a dedicated page on ArtGraf Liquid Graphite.
Award of the VI New Drawing Talent Prize (Drawing Room Viarco) to Catalina Julve.
Opening of the second edition of Nós os Loucos (We, the Mad Ones) at Pavilhão 31 Gallery, curated by Sandro Resende, presenting outcomes of interventions at the Sobral Cid Psychiatric Hospital and the Júlio de Matos Hospital.
