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

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.