Young artists will have free training and exchanges in new network

Uthe new national network aimed at creating training opportunities, artistic residences and exchanges for young creators will be presented on Friday in Alcanena, seeking to strengthen collaboration between municipalities and artistic circulation in the country.

“ This will have the obvious benefit for young people, who can expand their territories, in this case their physical territories, but also expand their territories of imagination, their territories of work and make there are much more opportunities ", said Lusa Tiago Siguirelho, president of the Generator, promoter of the initiative.

The Emerging Artists Network, which will be presented in Alcanena, in the district of Santarém, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, intends to link municipal programs to support artistic creation.

According to Tiago Sigorelho, many of these projects end up being expressed mainly in their own territories, without contact with similar initiatives from other regions.

Promoted by the Generator, in partnership with the Portuguese Sports and Youth Institute (IPDJ) and MOVY, the network has 18 confirmed municipalities, 11 of which will be announced in the presentation, with the remaining seven in formalization.

Tiago Sigorelho hopes to reach about 25 municipalities by the end of the year, in a network open to other municipalities and organizations, which already covers territories such as Viana do Castelo, Loulé and Funchal.

“ We will always ensure that there is an appreciation of those who apply for low population density territories ", said, defending that the project contributes to territorial cohesion.

The first activities should start in early 2027, with free training for young people from the acceding municipalities, artistic residences and national and international exchanges. On Friday will be announced two programmes, one of visual arts and one of international dimension, with a foreign partner.

In February a digital platform will be launched with municipal projects and artists identified by artistic area, facilitating contacts with festivals and other cultural organizations.

Between April and May there will be an annual, rotating national meeting between municipalities, lasting two or three days and participation of artists and municipal teams.

The network provides for an annual contribution of EUR 3,750 per municipality, regardless of its size, complemented by support from the Generator and other public and private entities.

Tiago Sigorelho explained that the overall budget is not yet set, depending on the number of accessions and new partnerships, which he hopes to announce by the end of the year.

The initiative also aims to prepare young people to participate in the National Young Creators Show, organized by the Generator in partnership with the IPDJ.

The councilor of Culture of the House of Alcanena, Gabriel Feitador, considered that the integration in the group of founding municipalities and the choice of the municipality for the national presentation reinforce the municipal strategy to support cultural creation.

“Alcanena intends to impose herself on the national panorama as a creative municipality, in various artistic and cultural disciplines,” Lusa said, highlighting opportunities for training, exchange, exhibitions and joint creation.

Gabriel Feitador associated the initiative to the Leathers Project, for the recovery of industrial heritage, including the former offices of the Constantino Mota Factory, which welcome the presentation.

According to the councilman, the first phase of the intervention should end by the end of the year, following the adaptation of spaces for creative industries, training, artistic residences and cultural projects.

The presentation takes place on Friday at 5:00 p.m., and will also count on the mayor of Alcanena, Rui Anastacio.