Story & Mission
We’re an international, human-centred extracurricular space for recreation and academics that bring together learning, creativity, and community.
Espaço Aberto is born out of a deep sense of gratitude to the local community. It was created by Ivan Mutovin, a lawyer and 2022 immigrant from Russia, who — together with his family — was warmly welcomed to Cascais.
The artistic concept is shaped by Olga Nikolaeva, who gives Espaço Aberto its unique creative identity.
Most importantly, it is our professors and teachers who bring the space to life, building the academic depth and recreational spirit that define what we do.
Our mission is to create a cosy, welcoming space where curiosity has no limits and everyone is invited to explore. A place where children, teens, and adults can learn, connect, and leave each day a little more inspired than they came.
Espaço Aberto is born out of a deep sense of gratitude to the local community. It was created by Ivan Mutovin, a lawyer and 2022 immigrant from Russia, who — together with his family — was warmly welcomed to Cascais.
The artistic concept is shaped by Olga Nikolaeva, who gives Espaço Aberto its unique creative identity.
Most importantly, it is our professors and teachers who bring the space to life, building the academic depth and recreational spirit that define what we do.
Our mission is to create a cosy, welcoming space where curiosity has no limits and everyone is invited to explore. A place where children, teens, and adults can learn, connect, and leave each day a little more inspired than they came.
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Passionate educators from all over
the world who inspire and engage.
the world who inspire and engage.
One-of-a-kind guest
speakers & teachers
speakers & teachers
Coworking & open
space for everyone
space for everyone
We’re a hub! Partner schools and independent educators are most welcome! Run your own workshops, courses, and events. Whether you are a chess club, an architecture studio, or a guest lecturer, our doors (and minds) are always open.
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Hands-on experiences in arts, science, and everything in between.
Workshops, creative
labs, summer camps
labs, summer camps
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From mythology to astronomy, law to yoga, our classes feed the mind and soul.
Irresistibly interesting
subjects & courses
subjects & courses
Knowledge is a treasure,
practice is the key to it
practice is the key to it
Knowledge is a treasure,
practice is the key to it
Courses
— in English
Bar Models & Math Fluency workshops — visual thinking, problem-solving, and fun with numbers for curious young minds.
Bar Models & Math Fluency workshops — visual thinking, problem-solving, and fun with numbers for curious young minds.
— in English/Hebrew
From Aleph-Bet to Torah stories and Jewish holidays — learn Hebrew, explore traditions, and create through art and games.
From Aleph-Bet to Torah stories and Jewish holidays — learn Hebrew, explore traditions, and create through art and games.
Upcoming Course
Stay tuned!
— in Russian
Myths aren’t just cool stories about Greek gods or Vikings — they’re a secret language! Let’s crack the code and discover how myths shape our understanding of the world!
Myths aren’t just cool stories about Greek gods or Vikings — they’re a secret language! Let’s crack the code and discover how myths shape our understanding of the world!
— in Russian
From ancient hieroglyphs to emojis — discover how humans learnt to write, invent your own alphabet,
and explore the future of communication!
From ancient hieroglyphs to emojis — discover how humans learnt to write, invent your own alphabet,
and explore the future of communication!
Events
— interactive musical concert
Together we will admire the colours of a summer sunrise, hear the rumble of thunder, the rustle of autumn leaves, the jingle of sleigh bells — and even dance a winter waltz!
Together we will admire the colours of a summer sunrise, hear the rumble of thunder, the rustle of autumn leaves, the jingle of sleigh bells — and even dance a winter waltz!
Upcoming Event
Stay tuned!
— lecture in Russian
What did they actually believe in? Who were the Judeo-Christians, and why did they disappear? We’re going to talk about these topics and much more with philologist and biblical scholar Andrey Desnitsky.
What did they actually believe in? Who were the Judeo-Christians, and why did they disappear? We’re going to talk about these topics and much more with philologist and biblical scholar Andrey Desnitsky.
FAQ
Not at all! We welcome curious minds of all ages — our programs are for children, teens, and adults alike.
Nope — we’re not a traditional school. Espaço Aberto is an after-school space for extracurriculars, learning, exploring, and connecting. That said, we’re deeply connected with the teaching community and can organise tutoring or extra help with certain subjects if needed.
We also love supporting curious minds who want to go beyond the standard curriculum. Got an idea or need about a course/program? We’d love to hear from you!
We also love supporting curious minds who want to go beyond the standard curriculum. Got an idea or need about a course/program? We’d love to hear from you!
Yes, we are open to collaborations and partnerships. We invite our lecturers based on the principles set out in our Mission. It is most important to us that, in addition to a strong academic background, our lecturers possess pedagogical talent and truly enjoy the process of teaching.
We want to be as affordable as possible for everyone — this is one of our core principles. To support this, we’ve created Espaço Aberto as a hub where teachers can connect with their students, and students can find inspiring teachers. We do not hire lecturers; instead, we support and facilitate their engagement with their audience.
Yes, we plan to offer both summer and winter camps filled with creative, educational, and social activities for different age groups. These camps are designed to be fun, engaging, and enriching — a chance for kids and teens to explore new interests, make friends, and enjoy their school breaks in a meaningful way.
Yes! While our academic programs are focused and fun, we’re not only about studying. We also organise recreational and sports activities for our community, creating space for movement, connection, and play alongside learning.
Absolutely. We fully comply with Portuguese legislation.
Our staff members have completed certified first aid training and a first aid medical kit is always available on site. In addition, we maintain a 1:5 adult-to-child supervision ratio ensuring close attention and care.
The school maintains up-to-date emergency contact protocols and is prepared to respond to any situation. The local police station is informed about our operations as a social facility, and we have a private security agency engaged for emergency response if needed.
Our staff members have completed certified first aid training and a first aid medical kit is always available on site. In addition, we maintain a 1:5 adult-to-child supervision ratio ensuring close attention and care.
The school maintains up-to-date emergency contact protocols and is prepared to respond to any situation. The local police station is informed about our operations as a social facility, and we have a private security agency engaged for emergency response if needed.
While this is not our main focus, we are happy to accommodate requests to host other activities — whether it’s a business club meeting, a peer-to-peer medical conference, or a community gathering — as long as it takes place during times when our students are not using the space. Just ask, and we’ll see what’s possible.
Yes, we are! Our spaces can be used as a coworking area — perfect for anyone looking for a creative place to work while staying close to the buzz of learning and community.
Join a course, book a space
Any questions left? — Just leave us a note & we’ll get back to you asap
Designed by
© Espaço Aberto 2025
Reviews
Our favorite customers share their impressions. Got one? Leave a review!
- That is my third heli-skiing trip. I am a professional snowboarder and I have travelled different places to practice. Next year I am with the team again and I feel a burst of excitement every time I think about the upcoming tour.Jane Weber
- Thanks you the Meridians team! My best trips were with them. Canada, Greenland, Finland! They can make your dream tour come true and show such places you would otherwise never visit!Lana Tompson
- Me and my family are passionate about wildlife and extreme tourism. Meridians always offer interesting routes and are excellent in coordinating everything.Simone Le'Mont
- Wow! Wow! If you want something outstanding in your life, Meridians is like an adventure factory.Claudio Naval
Directors, mentors and teachers
All our teachers are high-qualified and native speakers professionals. All of them develop their own programs for Additional programs.
- Eva StarkBIOLOGY CLASSES
Spanish native speaker - Max HoldenMATH CLASSES
English native speaker - Melisa WatsonHISTORY CLASSES
English native speaker - Wilhelm MullerPHYSICS CLASSES
German native speaker - Luisa ClarkMUSIC CLASSES
French native speaker - Wane BruksTENNIS COACH
English native speaker
Our friends and resident artists
We are always happy to meet and work with new people. Send your proposals to gallery@email.com
- Arjen Smet
- Fenna Bakker
- Amilla Saskia
- Friso Maas
- Agnes Boss
- Ella Janssens
- Lisse Smits
- Rafaël Sasbrink
- Titus Wouters
- Dirk van Beek
- Abe Jacobs
- Kasper Bakker
- Carel de Boer
- Siet Moens
- Xander De Vries