The Regional Directorate of Culture of the Algarve, represented by its director Alexandra Rodrigues Gonçalves, was in Brussels to participate in the dynamics of cultural innovation in the Mediterranean and to raise awareness of the European dimension of the Sagres Promontory as a European Heritage Label.
Thus, on the 24th and 25th of March, the regional director of Culture participated, in the Committee of the Regions, in the final meeting of the program Med Capitalization, who co-financed the project Sha.pes – Sharing Prior Excellence and Support for the Med Creative Asset (under the MED Territorial Cooperation Programme), developed by a transnational partnership that included 13 entities from nine regions of Mediterranean Europe, including the Algarve.
The University of Algarve as Sha.pes partner entity, invited the Regional Directorate of Culture of the Algarve to participate in the final evaluation meeting of this project.
Cultural network innovation and cooperation between public and private institutions in the Mediterranean are concerns that were at the base of the network created by Sha.pes and which it is hoped to continue to develop.
But Alexandra Gonçalves, taking advantage of the trip to Brussels, also had the opportunity to be received at the European Parliament, where, in addition to discussing issues about the cultural heritage and culture of the region, she made known the candidacy of the Sagres Promontory for the European Heritage Label, having delivered a copy to MEP Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PSD – European Popular Party), who belongs to the Committee on Transport and Tourism.
In her meeting with the Portuguese MEP, the regional director stressed that the «Promontorium Sacrum it responds to all the assumptions of this brand: it contributes to reinforcing the feeling of belonging, it contributes to increasing intercultural dialogue – the role of overseas expansion, Christianization and the Portuguese language around the world, and has a European and international dimension.
Furthermore, the Promontory of Sagres, «is a place of myths and memories. It is a finisterra, representing the end of the world, but it is also a mythical place where the God Hercules was worshiped. It also has enormous symbolic value as a place associated with the genesis of the history of expansion and the Discoveries. It was a strategic point for overseas expansion, defense of territories and control of trade flows between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It was the 1st era of globalization, it was the stage for the geopolitical decisions of Henrique, the navigator who changed the view of the world».
In the application presented, added Alexandra Gonçalves, the activities to be carried out for the consolidation of the Promontory as a European Heritage Label are well identified.
“The interest of the place goes far beyond the regional and national interest. It is considered that this candidacy has a relevant interest in promoting the common values of Europe and its values of integration”, concludes the Regional Directorate.
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