Anabela Afonso will be the new curator of “365Algarve”. The former director of the Municipal Theater of Faro was chosen to fill the position vacated by Dália Paulo, who accepted the position of Municipal Director at the Loulé Chamber.
Anabela Afonso will be responsible for programming the third edition of the event, which will start in October 2018.
Dália Paulo left the position of commissioner of this regional cultural animation program last Friday, to accept the invitation she received from the president of the Loulé Chamber to occupy the position of Municipal Director.
The new commissioner of “365Algarve” will be Anabela Afonso, who has been, for four years, chief of staff of the rector of the University of Algarve António Branco. His new functions should start on December 14, precisely after the rector's departure.
Contacted by Sul Informação, Anabela Afonso says that she received the invitation to be a flight attendant “with enthusiasm”, since it is about “returning to an area of work that I like a lot”.
Although I still haven't had time to do homework, not least because «the end of the mandate of the current rector also requires a lot of dedication», Anabela Afonso already has an idea of what awaits her and where she wants to go.
«I think that the event is already consolidated and that it has brought visibility, consistency and regularity to the region's programming, being a winning bet. The great challenge of this third edition is to achieve a greater connection between the two dimensions that make up the program: culture and tourism», he believes.
These are «two worlds that are not very used to working together», being necessary «a work of mediation that, naturally, Dália Paulo did not have the opportunity to do, because, in the initial phase, the important thing was to put the machine to floor".
In Anabela Afonso's view, the work developed by Dália Paulo “was Herculean”. "It was necessary break a lot of stone to put this program on its feet. And this is a legacy that she leaves and that will allow me to focus more on this mediation work», she believes.
Dália Paulo returns the compliments, considering that «Anabela Afonso is a great choice», since «he is someone who has been working in the Algarve for many years, knows the cultural fabric well and thinks about the region's culture. It is the right choice for the continuity of “365Algarve”», he defended.
The former program commissioner spoke with the Sul informação and explained the reason why he decided to leave, to work at the Câmara de Loulé.
«I decided to accept this challenge that was presented to me by the mayor of Loulé, at the beginning of this new municipal cycle. Either it was now that I accepted or later it would not make sense to leave “365Algarve”. At this moment, the first two editions are concluded and the program is closed, until May, and a new cycle was starting, with the preparation of the regulation for the 3rd edition», framed Dália Paulo.
"Either it would come out at this time, when, whoever comes, has the ability to decide the next edition, to make the adaptation it deems necessary, or, coming out later, it made it impossible for anyone who came to have an active participation in what will be the 3rd edition of the event, which was not fair. At that time, I would no longer leave», he added.
On the other hand, he said, it was important that "new perspectives arise, so that the program is adopted by the region and so that the region fights for more editions beyond the three initially planned."
Dália Paulo also revealed that she was "satisfied" with the two years she was the curator of "365Algarve". «It was a work with a lot of definition, a lot of novelty. Nothing like this had ever been done. It was a risk and there is still a long way to go. But I believe that what we have already done was done with great awareness and seriousness, and that pleases me», he considered.
At the time of farewell, the former responsible for the program left a word of thanks “to the local authorities and partners, who were involved from the beginning, which was very important. The success of this program owes a lot to them and to the four institutions involved in its promotion».
With this chapter closed, Dália Paulo returned today to the Chamber of Loulé, where she had already performed functions as director of the Division.
This time, the challenge is new, that of the municipal director, who «connects the executive with the municipal services. In the Câmara de Loulé, the only one in the Algarve where this figure exists, there are two municipal directors. I will be responsible for the areas of administration and planning, which includes the sectors of economy, tourism and commerce, and for the cultural area».
Dália Paulo will replace Leonel Silva in this position. Júlio Sousa is the other Municipal Director of Loulé and remains in his position.
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