Category: Support

Atlantic Cities Association supports Faro's candidacy to be the European Capital of Culture 2027

6/1/2022

The Atlantic Cities Association (ACA) formally declared its support for Faro's Candidature to European Capital of Culture. Taking into account the prestige of this association and the fundamental role it develops in the Atlantic arc, we were proud to receive this recognition.

The statement said that the ACA recognises that Faro2027 is a "candidacy to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe and highlight the common features they share, as well as to strengthen the citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural space". Furthermore, our application is also recognised as an important driver for the long-term economic, social and environmental development of the city and the region.

The statement signed by Mr Eneko Goia Laso, President of Atlantic Cities and Mayor of Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain), further states that Faro's bid to become European Capital of Culture "is based on strengthening the scope, diversity and European dimension of cultural offer at city level, in particular through transnational cooperation; broadening access to and participation in culture; strengthening the capacity of the cultural sector and its links with other sectors; improving the international profile of cities through culture."

About the Network of Atlantic Cities
The Atlantic Cities Association - ACA promotes and defends the interests of the Atlantic cities of Europe. It was created in the 2000s with the main objective of giving a voice to the authorities of these cities and their territories at European level. In order to achieve its objectives, the ACA establishes and encourages cooperation across the Atlantic Arc, through the promotion of joint actions between members and the exchange of best practices and solutions to common problems.
All the work carried out over this time shows the importance of further strengthening the links between European territories.

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All municipalities of Algarve support Faro2027 candidacy

12/11/2021

Since the beginning, Faro2027 has presented itself as a candidate for the entire Algarve. Two years after formalizing their place in the cooproduction of the candidacy of Faro to European Capital of Culture 2027, the municipalities of Algarve have manifested their political and financial commitment to the candidacy.

In November of 2019, when signing the collaboration agreement between the Municipality of Faro, the Algarve Intermunicipality Community, the Algarve Tourism Region and the University of Algarve, the municipalities mutually agreed that the European Capital of Culture title justified everyone’s involvement and dedication.

They saw this as one of the European Union most recognized initiatives, understanding its transformative impact on the territory and its large capacity of multiplying the investment. On the 5th of November, the sixteen municipalities approved at the meeting of the intermunicipal council a manifestation of collective interest of regional investment in the scope of the candidacy of Faro to European Capital of Culture. This candidacy is recognized as a “collective wish, worthy of a vast and lasting commitment, constituting a unique and outstanding opportunity for Algarve.” It was deliberated, considering the regional component of the project, a manifestation of collective interest for regional investment of an estimated value of sixteen million euros.

Faro’s municipality will invest 10,6 million euros and the remaining amount will be divided by the other fifteen municipalities according to a criteria of distribution. The investment will happen between 2023 and 2028.
The total estimated budget, which amounts to 76 million euros, will also be assured by the government, through European funds and the private sector.
This investment will be directed to:

develop training and education programs
enhance the internationalization of the cultural and creative sector
creation of new audiences
increase in the number of visitors to the region throughout the year
increased awareness of the Algarve destination

The municipality of Faro recognizes culture as the main key to the development of the city and the county

4/11/2021

In the latest meeting, on the 2nd of November, the municipality decided that the annual budget for culture would be 10%. This decision is to be applied now and the next ten years. Such political commitment shows how Faro’s municipality perceives culture as one of the main keys to economic and social development of the city and county.

In this same meeting, they agreed on a reform of the formats of support for the cultural and associativism sectors. One of the changes should include the possibility of attributing financial support within biannual and triannual periods. This is a progressive decision in the national sphere considering that by standard these financial supports are given annually. With this decision, the municipality seeks to increase the stability of cultural entities related to artistic creation, potentially reaching a higher level of independence.

This meeting took place after the local elections. The new executive of the Municipality reaffirmed the importance of the Candidacy of Faro to European Capital of Culture, considering it a priority project for Faro and the Algarve. It was also debated the financial aid for the candidacy and its future projects. To the president of the municipality, Rogério Bacalhau, the decisions now taken bring to life a set of aspirations that have been promoted throughout the process of the candidacy. “We always said, since the beginning, that more important than the result, is the process and the mark that is left, and with this decision, we are showing that there is a way with no return.”, adding, “culture and creativity are areas in expansion in Europe, being a sector that represents four percent of the European GDP and employs almost nine milion people.“

“We want Faro to look at the future seeking to develop around the respect for nature and landscape, potentiating the knowledge acquired by the university allied to new technological dynamics. In this perspective, culture must assume itself as an aggregator. We want Faro to be, more than ever, a good place to live, study, work and invest”, concludes the president.

Business associations from Algarve support the candidacy of Faro to European Capital of Culture 2027

22/10/2021

The Algarve’s business and commercial associations, after recognizing the potential of the candidacy of Faro to European Capital of Culture as an important enhancer for economic and social development of the region, have associated themselves with the municipality of Faro and formalized their support to Faro2027.

The support declaration was signed by the Association of commerce and services of the Algarve’s region (ACRAL), Association of Hotels and touristic entrepreneurship of Algarve (AHETA), Association of Hotel industries and similar of Algarve (AIHSA), Algarve Evolution, National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), Algarve Region Business Association (NERA) and Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Algarve (CEAL).

According to Rogério Bacalhau, the president of Faro, “This is a candidature for the entire region. Faro2027 is a legacy we intend to leave for Algarve, but more than that, is structuring and mobilizing projects where everyone has a place; business associations, companies, investors, commerce; we will take everyone who’s willing to join us.”
Vitor Neto, the president of the Algarve Region Business Association (NERA) adds: “ We support the process of the candidacy to European Capital of Culture since the beginning, conscious that nothing will be the same anymore. No county, parish or sector will move forward alone. Supporting Faro2027 is investing in the reinforcement of our international notoriety.”

The declaration of support for the candidacy happened on the 20th of October at the Noble hall of the municipality.

Artists and cultural producers from all over Italy congratulate Faro on its application for European Capital of Culture

30/11/2020

Several artists from the Wunderkammer project have been applauding the work done by the Faro2027 team, and their use of cultural venues across the city to host meetings, interviews and workshops, among other projects.

Faro2027 reaffirms its commitment to submitting a European Capital of Culture application with the involvement of the entire region

30/10/2020

Faro2027, As part of Faro's application for European Capital of Culture, a meeting was held that brought together cultural sector technicians and managers from across the Algarve’s Municipalities.

Faro2027, As part of Faro's application for European Capital of Culture, a meeting was held that brought together cultural sector technicians and managers from across the Algarve’s Municipalities. This meeting, which took place at the Teatro das Figuras, in Faro, was held in order to present the projects that have been developed as part of the application to the other municipalities in the region, as well as to reiterate the desire that this application be shared by all municipalities and councils across the Algarve region:“ Beyond simply joining us, we want each one to build something bigger for the region. This project must extend far beyond the application. It must be something stronger, that is firmly rooted and lives on, beyond the city’s potential nomination. We want to show the strength of a region, and how much it can contribute to developing our country, through culture.” - Rogério Bacalhau, Mayor of the Municipality Faro, said in his speech at the meeting.

"Culture is weaved into every area of socio-economic life, and if all the municipalities in the Algarve come together, we could set an example for the entire country (...)"

Though the European Capital of Culture rules state that only one city can formally apply, the European Union is increasingly encouraging applications that encompass the entire area surrounding a city. As such, proposals for regional cooperation projects were also presented at this meeting as potential contributions to the Faro2027 application, which will be discussed at AMAL headquarters (Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve - CIM Algarve), co-producer of the Application. These regional cooperation projects aim to develop a strategic vision for the cultural and creative sector in the region and invest in training cultural agents, but also in training technicians in the municipalities’ cultural sectors and other public bodies. It further aims to aid the transfer of more information and better communications between the cultural and creative sector and its various stakeholders. To reach these objectives, the Faro2027 team has proposed that several shared projects be carried out, reaffirming their willingness to work alongside municipal leaders, but also with the technicians present, and it is expected that these will be shared projects, to which each of these parties contributes: “Culture is weaved into every area of socio-economic life, and if all the municipalities in the Algarve come together, we could set an example for the entire country, demonstrating how the region develops around culture and therefore cultivates a stronger sense of citizenship, better environment, better mobility, more jobs and higher quality of life. ” - pronounced Rogério Bacalhau at the end of the meeting, while thanking everyone for their presence.

Cities bidding for European Capital of Culture come together to transform our country

27/1/2020

Several Municipalities signed a joint declaration as part of 1st Meeting of Mayors of Applicant Cities, which was held in Portimão following an invitation sent out by the Faro Municipal Council

Within the framework of the 1st Meeting of Mayors of Cities Bidding for European Capital of Culture 2027, the municipalities of Faro, Braga, Coimbra, Évora, Guarda, Leiria and Oeiras signed a joint declaration this Friday in Portimão, within which they will work together on a process to transform Portugal beyond the scope of these applications.

According to the joint declaration produced in this unprecedented meeting between the mayors of the various candidate cities, held following an invitation sent out by the Municipality of Faro, “a nationwide competition prior to the title being awarded is the element that most clearly distinguishes the current procedure from three previous times Portugal has won the title (Lisbon, 1994; Porto, 2001 and Guimarães, in 2012)”. As such, “several Portuguese cities have already been actively working towards their bid, some for several years now”.
According to a statement drawn up by the Mayors, “for the first time in Portugal, medium-sized cities are systematically thinking about their surrounding areas based on culture, a practice that has been developing for over a decade now”, which the Mayor of the Faro Municipal Council, Rogério Bacalhau, presented in Portimão, adding that “the objective of any of these cities is not to prepare a festive and showy event for 2027”, but “to consolidate the conditions necessary for these cities to be both cultural and creative”.
“People see the European Capital of Culture events as a party, but we all want to try to transform our communities and the country as a whole, using new forces and culture to do so”, reinforced Rogério Bacalhau.

These cities are therefore recognised as “competitors, because they participate in a process from which only one will be chosen”, but also as “co-operators”, because “they are aware of the national importance of their work”.
"This work has already begun and will not end in 2027: the sustainability of a creative legacy involving citizens, artists and cultural operators will be the greatest proof of the success of this whole process", he also said in his statement.
The signatory cities “therefore encourage the development of their cultural and creative fabric, as well as all the involvement of all citizens in this movement of cultural dynamism”. They “also urge the Portuguese Government, in particular, to join the movement using its Ministry of Culture, creating the synergies necessary to strengthen the country in this process, regardless of the city chosen for the title”.
The statement went on to say that “The title of 2027 European Capital of Culture will be awarded to Portugal as a country, and the applicant cities understand that the Government is a fundamental partner when it comes to the planning and timely implementation of the structural support necessary for a successful application.”
Final submissions of applications will take place in 2021, with the title being announced in 2022 once bids have been assessed by an international jury as part of a process conducted by the European Union.

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A united Algarve Completes Faro’s Bid for European Capital of Culture

27/11/2019

The Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), The University of Algarve (UALG) and the Algarve Regional Tourism Board (RTA) will co-produce the application.The Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), The Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ) and the Regional Directorate for Culture have expressed their interest in collaborating.

A regional, concerted and inclusive application was the guiding principle behind the Official Session held to establish local and regional collaboration agreements as part of Faro's Bid for the European Capital of Culture 2027, which took place on the 25th November at Teatro das Figuras in Faro. It was at this session that collaboration agreements were signed between the Municipality of Faro and the University of Algarve, the Algarve Regional Tourism Board and the Algarve Intermunicipal Community, thus formalising these entities as co-producers of the application. In this session, Collaboration Letters were also signed by the IPDJ Algarve Regional Directorate, the Algarve’s Regional Directorate for Culture the and CCDR, therefore formalising their interest in participating in this process, which aims to develop the region.
The session was rounded off with a lovely photograph taken of the Algarve’s key regional leaders, embodying the long-sought-after idea that Faro’s Bid for European Capital of Culture encompass the entire region. A session widely attended by the region’s life forces.

The Municipality of Faro invited UAlg, AMAL and RTA to co-produce Faro's bid for European Capital of Culture 2027. The three institutions will sit on the executive committee of the bid as well as on the general council. The leaders of the CCDR, IDPJ and Regional Directorate for Culture will also be part of a joint council, having signed collaboration letters with the municipality with a view to developing strategies, projects and programmes that will provide a positive contribution to the region, while respecting their institutional independence. “The leading regional institutions have united around a common objective. The population of the Algarve knows how to put aside their differences and gather together around what matters most, when it matters most” were the words spoken by the Mayor of Faro, Rogério Bacalhau, at the end of the session, an echo of all the speeches made by the representatives of the regional and local entities involved in the session who had already committed to the project, each in their own way, actively participating in this process, recognising the potential and wealth of the Algarve as a whole as being the driving force behind this bid. In his speech, Rogério Bacalhau stressed that this was a mission that demanded “a lot of humility and unity” from the councils and other entities involved, ensuring that this project does, in fact, have a future and that it is able to successfully transform the region.

In this session, a resolution passed by Faro Municipal Council which assesses the intentions behind the bid was also signed, though symbolically, by all 9 participants. Councilman Miguel Sengo da Costa highlighted the rebellious nature of this decision as an act of courage on behalf of the Mayor, reinforcing the spirit of unity between the municipal figures of different parties that came together at this time.
Luis Graça, President of the Faro Municipal Assembly, also made a statement supporting the bid, listing personalities that have contributed to creating the unique cultural characteristics attributed to the Algarve over the last century.

Before that, Carlos Martins, the former executive director of the Guimarães, European Capital of Culture 2012 project, congratulated the Mayor along with all the entities joining the project, explicitly highlighting their “courage to commit themselves to a project that is far greater than a term. 2027 is not on the immediate horizon of any of the current political agents”. Carlos Martins presented a set of fundamental principles relating to an application, warning that it is not a celebration, rather a transformative project.

At the end of the session, Rogério Bacalhau, Mayor of Faro, perfectly echoed the tone of the session, saying: “The main regional institutions have united around a common objective. The population of the Algarve knows how to put aside their differences and gather together around what matters most when it matters most.” Looking into the future and reinforcing the idea that this must be a project for everyone, for the people themselves, he also mentioned that “More than the bid itself, we’re interested in thinking about cities of the future and increasing cultural production, and creating better conditions in the South of the country for our agents to do just that”.