The terraces of the Fábrica da Cerveja, the building of the Algarve Tourism Region, the Ermida de Santo António do Alto or the Municipal Market of Faro are some of the 24 spaces that will be able to be visited during the Açoteia festival, which takes place on the 21st and 22nd of June, in Faro. But in addition to the view, which is already a strong appeal, there will be music, workshops, exhibitions, performances, theater and even cinema. All this, a good few meters off the ground.
Paulo Santos, vice president of the Chamber of Faro, in conversation with the Sul Informação, emphasizes that «this is a pioneering event in Portugal that will address 3 main areas: art, sustainability and community».
Over the years, the roof terraces have lost importance in the lives of the people of the Algarve, but this festival proposes a new look at these spaces. «The roof terraces have a great meaning for the Algarve. They were once a space of great activity in their homes. They were spaces where dried fruit was dried, water was collected for cisterns and clothes were dried. The roof terraces have always been linked to the Algarve traditions, but with the new experiences and the buildings, they became places with no access, or where you put something that is not visible, such as air conditioners».
However, «at the end of last year, we realized that the roof terraces could have a new logic, in a vision of sustainability, and that they can be used as places that give a different view of the city, from top to bottom, with wide and airy views» .
This perception led the municipality to look for European cities that were already making use of their "rooftops" and these met in Faro, in February. «When we invited cities to come to Faro share your experiences, interesting things happened: for example, Amsterdam and Rotterdam which are two Dutch cities were not collaborating with each other and were not aware of each other's dynamics. And that was the first international meeting that brought together a group of cities, with which we are working».
Due to this aggregating role of the city of Faro, Paulo Santos reveals that «at the Rooftop Days, a conference that took place in Rotterdam, as part of the city's Rooftops Festival, the Algarve capital was nicknamed «Rooftop Heroes, for having brought together these cities that were already working on this theme, without knowing what was going on next door and without working in a network».
About the Farense festival, Paulo Santos reveals that «we are going to have 24 roof terraces open to the public. Some are already open daily: the Hotel Faro, the Hotel Eva, the Lab Terrace and the Alameda. These are commercial spaces that already exist and use their roof terraces. But we will join spaces that are normally not open to the public and will open on purpose for Açoteia».
On the roof terraces, there will be activities for all tastes «involving the local community. We will have, from cinema, on a roof terrace, in charge of the Cineclube de Faro, period dances, promoted by the Dance Club of Escola João de Deus, and the library will transfer some of its activity to its terrace, in partnership with the Gym Club of Faro». There will also be a yoga class at the former Escola Superior de Saúde, ArQuente's Concertos ao Entardecer will be part of the program and Amarelarte will also “go up” to Açoteia, with a space for children.
also the LIGHT, who will move to Faro, in November, will be present at Açoteia. «There will be a space dedicated to LUZA, with a light installation, at Fábrica da Cerveja».
In the same space, there will be the Mar Motto exhibition, promoted by Sciaena, and, on ANJE's terrace, there will be the Algarve Blues Association, with a performance involving Jazz and Blues.
In relation to musical shows, not all names are known yet, but Paulo Santos reveals that «we will have national names, not with large concerts and productions – because almost all spaces will be limited in terms of people and technical conditions -, but with intimate concerts. Regional artists will also present themselves in the same way».
Some of these artists, «will give various concerts, repeating their performances throughout the festival, in surprise spaces. The audience will know that the artist will play on a certain day, but they won't know where. Whoever buys a ticket for the festival can walk around the 24 roof terraces, with this surprise schedule. The spaces will be limited to their specific capacity, since we have spaces that allow for 20 people, as well as others that can accommodate 500».
Information about the venues of the shows “will be made available online. The spaces will all be in the city, for reasons of mobility. The aim is for people to be able to visit the various places».
Also, in partnership with Terrazas de Cultura, the Rooftops Festival in Barcelona, the «challenge of placing an artist of our own, of Faro, Galopim, working together with Pau Alabajos, from Barcelona, to create an exclusive production for Açoteia. Then, Galopim will play in Barcelona, at the end of July».
The result of this Portuguese-Spanish partnership can be seen at the Terrace Lab, at the top of Centro Ciência Viva de Faro.
One of the attractions of Açoteia will be the RTA building, which has “a fantastic view over the city and the Ria and which, for the first time, will have its roof terrace open to the public. It will be a possibility to contemplate the city, and here there will also be cultural programming».
The Chapel of Santo António do Alto, whose result of the works will be inaugurated on the 13th of June, Santo António, will also be part of Açoteia, receiving «experiences very focused on traditions», such as the roof terrace of Arco da Vila, which will have fate.
One of the proofs that Açoteia is not only a cultural event, but that it also wants to promote sustainability, is the Municipal Market of Faro. «An urban vegetable garden will be created, in partnership with Ambifaro and the AAPACDM, with about 600 square meters», says Paulo Santos.
This space, which will be inaugurated during the festival, will be maintained for the future. «It will be a space to train the association's students, a space for professional training. Simultaneously, the products produced will be allocated to the AAPACDM social canteen and social baskets to distribute to the population. Afterwards, workshops for families and environmental education activities for schools will be promoted. The aim is that families can use this experience to replicate it on their own terraces and balconies».
The vice president of the Chamber of Faro reinforces that «this is not a festival of music and party. It will have this component, but we want to raise awareness of the issues of climate change, sustainability and new ways of living the city».
As with other rooftop festivals in Europe, also in Faro, there will be an international conference on the subject. "We will have the president of the International Rooftop Federation, international and local speakers, who will pass on this new vision to the cities." This event will take place at the Casa d'Alagoa hostel, of course, on a roof terrace.
After two days of seeing the city from the top down, Açoteia will end “in depth”, with a party on the -2 floor of the Municipal Market of Faro
The festival will take place between 17:00 and 23:00. Tickets cost 5 euros per day and guarantee access to the 24 roof terraces.
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