The Regional Director for Youth said today in Ponta Delgada that in addition to its aesthetic and artistic dimension, the JUVEARTE Theatre Festival promotes the "exercise of cultural democracy at its highest level."

Pilar Damião spoke during the presentation of the 14th JUVEARTE festival, organised by the Candelária Youth Association. The festival will travel to the islands of São Miguel, Faial, São Jorge and Flores between October 18 and 26 to promote "once again cultural decentralisation, which is so necessary on these islands."

The Regional Director stressed that the Government's support to JUVEARTE, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, is mainly intended to promote theatre, particularly the productions from youngsters and amateur groups.

The contact between groups, particularly from different regions, the exchange of experiences and knowledge and the organisation of cultural exchanges that "may foster the mobilisation of theatre groups from the islands and other regions of Portugal and even from abroad" are other goals of this initiative, said Pilar Damião.

The Festival aims to provide Azorean theatre groups with the opportunity of promoting their work with different audiences and the sharing of experiences among regional, national and foreign theatre groups.

Organised by the Candelária Youth Association since 2000, JUVEARTE has the high patronage of the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, and, for the first time, this year's edition is being organised in partnership with Ateneu Criativo Association.