“It will be nine days with 13 daily activities and almost 100 punctual events from August 29 to September 6, with a program designed not to invade this wonderful forest in the city center, but to adapt to what it offers us,” stated today the founder of the project, Sandra Oliveira, during a press conference.
Today, Sandra Oliveira presented the first edition of a cultural project that she hopes “will become permanent, the Jardim das Artes e Letras (JAL), an investment of 81 thousand euros financed 80% by the Direção-Geral das Artes (DGArtes) and the remaining 20% by the Viseu City Council.”
The Culture councilwoman, Leonor Barata, emphasized that “since the City Council took over Mata do Serrado in 2023, it has the obligation to preserve, maintain, and return it to the community” and “nothing better than doing so with a program like this.”
According to Sandra Oliveira, the program was “based and inspired” by two books: “Grapefruit” by Yoko Ono and “Tisanas” by Ana Hatherly, with the idea being “to bring life to a unique, very old forest, which few cities have the opportunity to possess in the center.”
The program focuses “on all ages, especially families,” and was conceived by the association Pausa Possível and two young individuals Sandra Oliveira invited: Lucas F. Oliveira from Viseu and Maria Inês Demétrio from Alcobaça, Leiria district.
The book fair will feature “10 stalls, it’s small and different” and, according to Maria Inês Demétrio, “it includes two publishers that sell second-hand books in large stores across the country, which can be purchased at lower prices, because the idea is to democratize culture and ensure access for everyone, especially young people.”
The cinema sessions are a result of a partnership with the Viseu Film Club and the Tata Gallery to showcase short films, “especially for the younger ones, but in reality, they’re great for the whole family.”
Sandra Oliveira mentioned that the entire program can be consulted online at www.jardimdasarteseletras.pt, “a webpage adapted for any device where you can not only share but also send an email invitation to someone, making it very interactive.”
Opening the JAL will be Rafael Toral and closing will be Ece Canli, with “unbound strings” concerts during the week featuring “four of the best guitarists of today” like Tó Trips, Norberto Lobo, Lula Pena, and Filho da Mãe.
Throughout the event, figures such as Cláudia Cesário, Andreia Lopes, Patrícia Portela, Paulo Barracosa, Inês Leitão, Inês Marinho, Hugo van der Ding, Sara Brighenti, Clara Passarinho, Pedro Colaço, Marina Palácio, Liliana Bernardo, Joana Mendonça, Ana Verónica, and Cláudia Sousa will be present.
