Explore Faial’s Past and Future: A Cultural Journey in Horta from November 7th to 24th returns with a plethora of activities. This third edition, themed around popular culture, offers a deep dive into local history, focusing on rural parishes. Gain insights into the island’s populated areas, their centuries-old experiences, and their urban relationships. Engage in discussions about rural heritage, folklore, and traditional cuisine. There’s also room for contemporary art and literature appreciation, and a reflection on the 1998 earthquake, 25 years on. Stay tuned to the Sustainable Tourism Association of Faial’s Facebook page for schedule updates.
PROGRAMME
November 7th
25 YEARS SINCE THE 1998 EARTHQUAKE: REFLECTIONS ON RECONSTRUCTION AND HERITAGE
Opening Session / Round Table
Horta Public Library Auditorium BPARJJG – 17h30
Participants: João Vieira Caldas, Carlos Faria, Renato Leal and Tiago Simões da Silva
Moderator: Roberto Morais
The 1998 earthquake left a deep mark on Faial’s landscape. Despite the human tragedy and the destruction, the aftermath was also an opportunity to improve the safety and living conditions of many homes. The interventions that took place led to structural changes in the identity and heritage of the buildings. 25 years on, the time is ripe to look back at the reconstruction process and reflect on how it has transformed the island.
November 9th
REDISCOVERING TRADITIONAL GASTRONOMY
Round Table / Amor da Pátria Society – Winter Garden – 6pm
Participants: Marília Medeiros, Isaura Rodrigues and José Luís Neto and Pedro Cota
Moderator: Francisco Ribeiro
We’ve brought together a group of people whose experiences and knowledge complement each other to give us a deeper insight into our traditional gastronomy. Practices honed over decades, oral tradition, old recipe books, research and innovation at the crossroads of contemporaneity are some of the themes to be explored in this conversation.
Complementary activities:
November 18th
HOW ARE FOFAS MADE?
Show cooking at the Market / 10:30
with Isaura Rodrigues and Renata Rodrigues – Horta Municipal Market
November 16th
TRADITIONS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Round table / Casa Manuel de Arriaga – 18h00
Participants: Gabriela Funk, Sophie Coquelin, Grupo Folclórico e Etnográfico de Pedro Miguel and Grupo Folclórico dos Flamengos
Moderator: Marla Pinheiro
We usually talk about folklore, popular culture and traditions, but what do each of these concepts mean? Are traditions something alive, something that changes through practice, or should we preserve them untouched?
In this round table we will establish an open dialogue with academia and folklore groups, posing the question of what the role and importance of traditional folk practices are in contemporary times and how they can remain relevant in today’s society.
Complementary activities:
November 18th
Guided tour of Pedro Miguel’s Ethnographic House / 15:00
(duration 1h30)
November 21st
ART FOR ALL: THINKING ABOUT ART IN THE PUBLIC SPACE
Round Table / Casa Manuel de Arriaga – 18h00
Participants: Pantónio, Assunção Melo, Sofia Botelho, Ana Correia and Pedro Braia
Moderators: Tomás Melo and Pedro Rosa
In recent decades, a multiplicity of artistic languages, issues and themes have begun to invade the public space and establish an open dialog with the place and the community. Artists, cultural programmers and researchers from the archipelago meet here to discuss the state of public art in the Azores.
November 24th
HORTA IN LITERATURE
Shared readings / Peter Café Sport – 18h00
Coordinator: Renata Lima
Horta has inspired writers and writings, in Portuguese and other languages, over time, projected by the new voices that inhabit it. A moment of reading that will leave a lasting impression.
With the presence of the publisher/bookshop Companhia das Ilhas, which will have some books from its catalog dedicated to the Azores available for purchase.
November 13th to 15th
FAIAL ISLAND HISTORY AND HERITAGE COURSE, PARISHES AND THE RURAL WORLD
Auditorium Horta Public Library BPARJJG
Trainers: Tiago Simões da Silva and Carlos Lobão
Group 1 – Tourism professionals (working hours): 14h00-17h00 (total 9 hours)
Group 2 – General public (after working hours): 18:00-20:30 (total 7.5 hours)
Price: general €20.00 / ATSF and AAMH members free
Registration: daniela.silveira@atsf.pt
In this third edition of Faial – Discovering History, Thinking about the Future, the courses on the History and Heritage of Faial Island will focus on the rural parishes, from the process of occupation of the territory to the experiences of the rural environment, including the heritage of the parishes. As in previous years, one of the courses will be aimed at tourism professionals, during working hours, and a second will be open to the general public, during after-work hours.
