From May 5 to 10, we took part in the Culture Next Mobility Programme dedicated to ECoC candidate cities that are full members within the network. As representatives of Brno from the field of cultural and creative industries, we were hosted by the city of Faro, Portugal.
On Monday, May 6, a meeting took place with Bruno Inácio, representative of the Municipality of Faro’s Department of Culture. He was one of the main initiators and leaders of Faro’s application for the title of European Capital of Culture 2027.
At the meeting, we talked about the team’s application process, diving into the cultural and creative strategy, as well as the defined main problems of Faro, and then we talked more in detail about the Culture Next Mobility Programme. In the second half of the day, there was a tour of the largest theatre (both in Faro and in the Algarve region) led by the director of the institution. We discussed cooperation in the framework of program creation, financing and communication with the audience.
On Tuesday, 07/05/2024, there was a tour of Devir Capa, a smaller non-established performance art scene that offers artist residencies. An integral part of their work is the co-organization of a regional art festival in which many towns from the Algarve region participate. We addressed the introduction of a performing arts curriculum at the Universidade d’Algarve and explored the potential of a greater connection between artists interested in residencies from the Czech Republic and Portugal. In the second part of the day, a tour of the ARCM – Associacao Recreativa e Cultural de Músicos was organised. The association of artists (mainly in the field of music) has an old brewery on loan, where beer was never brewed, but it was used in the Carnation Revolution as an ammunition store for soldiers. Now this building is temporarily used as an experience for musicians and as a space for their performances and practice. The building is a national cultural monument.
On Wednesday, 8 May 2024, we were taken on a tour of the city, the ethnological museum and the cathedral. In the afternoon, there was a tour of the library, which also serves as an educational centre. It provides courses for the public and schools, meetings with authors, ecological programs for children and space for seniors to meet. At the same time, the library is located in the building of the original slaughterhouse. The topic was also the creation of a workshop for the public, where more modern technologies would be present (something like the FabLab in Brno) – 3D printers, plotters, etc. Unfortunately, the meeting with the communications team has been cancelled.
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, a visit took place to the oldest theater in Faro, whose wooden structure is built into the building of the original chapel. It is a non-profit association of non-established culture, which is significantly supported by the budget of the city of Faro. All kinds of cultural and creative events take place here. At the same time, the city is trying to purchase or transfer the building from the Red Cross in order to be able or help to properly
renovate the building.
The last part of the program was devoted to a debrief with Bruno Inácio. We discussed communication and promotion of the city, empty buildings, of which there are a large number in the city, and the issue of the city’s strategic projects, namely the establishment of a creative centre in the building of the former brewery.
The Culture Next Mobility Programme was a great source of information and inspiration, especially because we’ve gained knowledge regarding access and support for the cultural and creative industries. On the basis of its EHMK 2027 application, although unsuccessful, the city of Faro has offered significant support to the cultural and creative industries of the area. From regionally shared festivals, through the creation of a cultural and creative centre in one of the brownfields, which is located in the centre, to the creation of a gallery in a building that previously served the needs of a railway station. At the same time, Faro connects culture with two fundamental problems – lack of water and growing tourism.
We are grateful we could have been part of this exchange and experience.
Kind regards,
Klára and Sarah
