José Picas do Vale started his professional career at the age of thirteen, as a fisherman. In 1989 he joined the Portuguese Navy, being stationed at the Portuguese National Maritime Museum.
He graduated in History, post-graduated in Law and Rights of Impaired Citizens, and obtained a Master degree in Museum Studies. An integrated researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History, and associated researcher at the Institute of Art History, FCSH – UNL, José is conducting his Ph.D. in Contemporary History and Museum Studies with a research project on maritime museums. He’s a Fulbright Research Fellow; and Fellow of the Study of the United States Institute on Culture and Society. José has also received Scholarships from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (2009/2015); FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology (2012-2015); and a Leonard Rennie Grant from the Council of American Maritime Museums (2016).
Member of ICOM – International Council of Museums; RESPATRIMONI - International Network of Researchers on Heritagization; ACHS – Association of Critical Heritage Studies; RHIP – Network of History, Industry and Heritage; HOPER – Portuguese network of Oral History; co-founded AC - Acesso Cultura; and is president of the General-Assembly of Vórtice, cultural association.
He is the author of several articles on Museums, cultural projects, and Portuguese maritime history.
This experience and area of expertise, give José a very particular view of Lisbon, its History and its stories.