This Observatório (OAC) was created in 1996 by the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ICS), the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Ministry of Culture.

There are 5 main research streams under which 28 projects have been carried out by the OAC are:

1. Re-thinking the production and diffusion of statistical information on culture concerning the Ministry of Culture and the INE; 
2. Evaluation of cultural institutions that are the target of public cultural policy measures; 
3. Surveys of audiences and cultural practices; 
4. Studies on creators and of cultural operators; 
5. Analysis of spending on culture, involving the public and private sectors.

Main research studies in the last 3 years include: Audience Survey of the International Theatre Festival of Almada (2000); Inquiry into the Museums in Portugal (2000); On Reading – Surveys and Case Studies in Public Libraries (2001); Audience Survey of the S. João’s National Theatre (2001); Art Galleries in Lisbon (2001); Culture-Gates (2002); Mega-Events and their Audiences – Porto 2001, Capital of Culture (2002).