Walk&Talk plays important role in the revitalisation and opening of public spaces, says Pilar Damião
The Regional Director for Youth stated in Ponta Delgada that the Walk&Talk Festival plays a "predominant role in revitalisation and opening of public spaces." This initiative has the "ability to bring new audiences closer to artistic activities as well as to promote the democratic access to the arts" through the organisation of "critical debates and discussion forums on social, cultural and political issues."
According to Pilar Damião, the festival represents an "artistic effervescence in the middle of the Atlantic" that goes beyond institutional spaces and is in constant (re)construction and mutation, being accessible to all."
The Regional Director for Youth attended the opening session of the 4th edition of the Walk&Talk Festival, during which she congratulated the Anda&Fala Cultural Association "for the high quality work that has been developed in the Azores over the last four years."
Pilar Damião praised the young artists in charge for the organisation of the event, conveying the "Government's pride in joining, since the first time, a festival that has contributed to an aspect of utmost importance in our contemporary society - cultural democracy."
The Walk&Talk International Public Art Festival runs until August 3. The event is organised by the Anda&Fala Cultural Association and has been supported by the Regional Government since its first edition.
This initiative aims to promote contemporary art using an informal approach and to place the Azores on the route of creative regions.
This year, Walk&Talk will involve the participation of over 60 artists in about twenty spaces located in the municipalities of Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande. Once again, it will focus on the educational services as a means to involve more people in the artistic activities developed under the festival. Moreover, the event will feature the performance of several artists in outdoor spaces.
During the festival, there will be four artistic residences: the Architecture Laboratory, the Music and Literature Laboratory, the Contemporary Dance Residence and the Contemporary Craft Residence.