Established to celebrate World Portuguese Language Day on May 5, the third edition of this event fosters informal interactions between authors and artists across various disciplines. The aim is to utilize the Portuguese language as a bridge for intercultural dialogue and respect for diversity.
“There are projects that come to life when an illustrator collaborates with an author, or through exchanges between countries, and this interaction is very healthy. Primarily through informality, we promote this sharing,” stated Lurdes Breda, event organizer, emphasizing the informal nature of this initiative.
The event seeks to promote the work of authors and artists, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, and encourage joint ventures. It also aims to decentralize cultural activities by promoting literature and the arts in regions where they are not prominent.
“Typically, cultural opportunities and offerings are limited to major centers,” explained Lurdes Breda, herself an author from Montemor-o-Velho, stressing the importance of decentralizing cultural actions.
Similar to previous editions, the event will feature a comprehensive program starting at 12:30 p.m. with a cocktail, followed by lunch at Quinta do Taipal, which will include live music and a book exhibition featuring the works of attending authors.
The event will conclude at 9:00 p.m. at Hotel Abade João with a literary gathering open to the public.
“The participation of the general public is very healthy, because if we only organize events for authors and artists, we fail to engage with the broader community,” Breda noted, expressing that one goal of opening the event to the public is to “demystify” what occurs at these gatherings.
This year, new invited guests include Amadú Dafé, a presenter and author from Guinea, Lara Xavier, an Angolan author, Hugo Sampaio, a Portuguese musician, entertainer, and author, and Luís Aguiar, a poet, writer, and artist. These individuals join the event alongside others through registration.
“This event is privately organized, meaning institutional support is very limited, hence the need for registration,” explained Breda, who hopes for more institutional support to sustain the event’s future growth ambitions, “maintaining the same objectives but offering more to participants.”
“With more support, we can go further, but the goodwill and cooperation with participating entities guarantee everything runs smoothly,” assured Breda, adding that authors from Portuguese-speaking countries travel specifically to participate despite existing conditions.
Lunch registration costs 23 euros, with sign-ups open until April 25 via the organizer’s social media channels or email address.
