“If you plant that seed as early as possible, you can ensure that this appreciation, this love has greater longevity and sustainability. Therefore, this is a priority we [the Government] have. It is indeed about making culture accessible as early as possible,” stated the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes spoke in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, at the conference “Culture, Education and Territory in the Place of Tomorrow,” the first initiative held at the Luís da Camões auditorium under the PDL26 – Portuguese Capital of Culture project.
“It is to show that culture is close, not distant. It’s not elitist and reaches all territories,” emphasized the minister, acknowledging that despite many steps being taken, there are still “many barriers,” including physical, architectural, and other types that hinder access to cultural spaces or even museums, with some “not even having guides in Braille.”
The minister assured that the Government is working to overcome these barriers and make culture accessible from a young age.
“This goal of reaching everywhere has made the Government sensitive to the project of the Portuguese Capitals, understanding that a million euros for Braga or Aveiro is one thing and for the Azores is another. Therefore, the 30% increase we made was precisely a materialization of these words. And this was a signal we gave,” highlighted Margarida Balseiro Lopes.
The minister added that the Government will continue to reinforce the sector’s budget in 2026, prioritizing projects that decentralize cultural offerings and promote access in all regions.
“By instilling that love for culture as early as possible, I’m ensuring new audiences to visit museums, attend performances, buy books, listen to music, and visit interpretive centers,” she emphasized.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport asserted that culture “has economic value” as it boosts job creation, attracts investment, and generates value.
The regional secretary for Education, Culture and Sport argued that territoriality poses additional challenges in accessing and promoting education and culture compared to the rest of the nation and internationally, as well as among municipalities.
“What we have to ensure, from the Government’s perspective, is investment that brings a return,” defended Sofia Ribeiro in her address.
The head of Education in the Azores explained that this return “does not have to be immediate” and there should be a focus on structural and sustained policies.
“Ensuring this return cannot happen if we only focus on promoting events,” Sofia Ribeiro argued, ensuring that the Azorean government has placed “a strong emphasis” on education and educational policies in the region, particularly targeting the first cycle.
She mentioned specifically the alteration of first-cycle teachers’ schedules, which allowed the entry of other professionals such as physical education, motor expression, visual education, and music education teachers to ensure a curricular component of daily work with children.
Prior to the conference, the financing cooperation protocol of the Ponta Delgada 2026 (PDL 26) project was signed between the Ministries of Culture and the Economy/Secretary of State for Tourism, the Government of the Azores, and the Ponta Delgada City Council.
According to the protocol accessed by Lusa, the total financing amount is 5.3 million euros (650 thousand euros from Turismo de Portugal, 650 thousand euros from the Ministry of Culture, one million euros from the Regional Government, and three million euros from the Ponta Delgada City Council).
The document was signed by the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado, and the President of the Ponta Delgada City Council, Pedro Nascimento Cabral.
The agreement stipulates that the planning, promotion, development, and execution of the PD26 – Portuguese Capital of Culture initiative is under the responsibility of the Ponta Delgada municipality.
