Cristina's curatorial practice started in 2011 by co-founding the artist-run platform desNORTE, which was crucial for the then-artistic-desert of Porto to develop a discourse.

Currently, as an intersectional feminist-artist, having led a public institution for 7 years, she advocates for an artist-centric approach and a more sustained practice towards dialogue, care relationships, work ethics, and equity, despite the voracity and demands of institutions.

A performing arts curator, dramaturge, and choreographer, Cristina works as a consultant and curator for foundations, cultural organizations, and companies. Her integrated curatorial practice focuses on the development of sustainable creative formats, new narratives, and caring relationships within the performing arts, with a growing interest in experimental practices that are politically and socially engaged. She has a strong interest in the intersections of curatorial and organizational practices with those of research and education and possesses extensive knowledge of the contemporary dance and performance field. Over the years, Cristina has blurred the lines between disciplines, nationalities, and hierarchies, and she sees the role of the curator as a facilitator.

From April 2025 onwards, she is the new Artistic Director of Materiais Diversos (PT).

In 2025, she co-founded SUPERNOVÆ with Natalia Álvarez Simó (ES), a consulting and curatorial platform.

Since 2024, she has been part of the Artistic Team contributing to the new Something Great Arts Centre (DE) a new contemporary performing arts center within the estate of Schloss Mentin in the Ruhner Berge as part of the Artistic Curatorial Team alongside with Ash Bulayev, River Lin and founder Artistic Director Rui Silveira. The center will have its public opening between 2026 - 2030.

Her tenure from 2018 to 2024 as curator and later as Artistic Director at Teatro Municipal do Porto, DDD – Festival Dias da Dança, and CAMPUS Paulo Cunha e Silva has left a transformative legacy. During this time, she launched a pivotal residency center in 2021 - that involved ongoing research into new formats and sustainable support for artists with a focus on local engagement, expanded the institution’s reach, and brought international collaboration to the forefront. 

As Artistic Director, Cristina managed two venues: Teatro Rivoli (with a large auditorium seating 800 and a small auditorium seating 150) and Teatro Campo Alegre (with a large auditorium seating 500 and four small rooms). The regular multidisciplinary season, running from September to July, featured approximately 60 to 80 productions annually from local, national, and international artists, with most projects being co-productions. Additionally, Cristina oversaw and programmed DDD - Festival Dias da Dança, a contemporary dance festival held in April across Porto, Gaia, and Matosinhos, presenting around 30 works from local, national, and international artists, primarily through co-productions. The residency center, Paulo Cunha e Silva, offered daily expanded practices for artists, open calls for artistic residencies, and research programs.

Cristina has served as an artistic consultant for Braga'27 application for Capital of Culture, was part of the direction of REDE, and has participated in several jury panels, including for PT - Portuguese Platform of Performing Arts (2023 and 2025), for the Creation Grants O Espaço do Tempo / La Caixa (2023 and 2024) Conde Duque, Madrid (2024), for all the open calls held at CAMPUS PCS between 2021-2024 and is a nominator for the SEDA Prize on behalf of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.