Support Gerador in building a more creative, critical and participatory society. Find out how here.
This course will cover the necessary considerations before opening, the steps to take, and how to manage an independent bookstore in Portugal. It will also reflect on the production of literary events both inside and outside the bookstore.
Grace Santos
Online, 15h, in Portuguese
October 19th to November 23th, 2026
195 EUR
• To understand the concept and specific characteristics of independent bookstores, analyzing the cultural and economic context in Portugal;
• Identify the fundamental steps to create and manage an independent bookstore, including legal, logistical, and operational aspects;
• Understanding stock management practices, relationships with publishers and distributors, and the legal framework of the book market;
• Explore the role and daily functions of an independent bookseller, including the development of relevant partnerships and collaborations;
• To develop skills in the production of literary events, addressing typologies, financing, and strategic partnerships;
Introduction of the class and the course. Understanding the concept of an independent bookstore and its various types. Learning about different types of bookstores and the differences between them, considering the various factors that characterize them. Cultural and economic context. Recent history of support for independent bookstores.
Starting with the legal structure, moving on to the physical space and its logistical processes, equipment, and taking a look at the possibilities of certified invoicing software, let's talk about the initial needs inherent in creating an independent bookstore.
Orders, publishers and distributors, discounts and the Fixed Book Price Law, invoicing and returns. Independent publishing and distribution. Stock management in a used bookstore.
To understand exactly what the work of an independent bookseller entails, beyond simply selling books, and what this implies in the daily management of an independent bookstore. Relevant organizations and entities.
Types of literary events and their counterparts in independent bookstores. Costs, logistics, human and material resources.
Funding strategies and partnerships for events in independent bookstores.
Graça Santos studied fine arts at FBAUL in Lisbon and at ESAD in Caldas da Rainha. In 2013, she began collaborating with the bookstore Ler Devagar, working in all of Ler Devagar's stores in Óbidos and Lisbon during almost 10 years of collaboration. In 2020, while still with Ler Devagar, she helped create ReLI – Rede de Livraria Independentes (Network of Independent Bookstores), where she remains to this day. She was also the bookseller responsible for the production and assembly of the Livraria da Casa do Comum (Bookstore of the Common House), a new multidisciplinary project by Ler Devagar, inaugurated in November 2023 in Bairro Alto.
The course will take place on Mondays from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Classes are held via videoconference, last 2h30, and are recorded for consultation upon request by the student and available until the end of the course. The sharing of experience between the professor and the students is the main focus of the Gerador Academy, thus valuing participatory learning adapted to each case.
It is important to read the entire Regulation in detail. to understand how everything works.
Become Member or Monthly Subscriber of Gerador to access a fixed discount of €15 on the total registration fee.
If you already are click here to log in and the discount will be automatically applied in the online store. If you do not have an account, fill out the form with the email associated with your subscription.
if you enroll simultaneously in two courses in the same area you can enjoy 10% discount.
Learn how to create a collective entity with legal personality (association), with the aim of developing artistic and cultural initiatives.
How to detect funding opportunities for artistic and cultural projects?
What steps should I follow to develop an effective and practical digital communication plan?
The course aims to provide motivation, knowledge and the ability to detect funding opportunities for artistic projects, facilitating access to information and knowledge about potential national funding instruments.
You will learn about the various aspects of cultural communication, from strategy to practice.
