The Regional Director for Communities attended yesterday the launch of the book “Renda de Bilro, um legado açoriano transcendendo séculos em Florianópolis” (Bobbin Lace, an Azorean legacy transcending centuries in Florianopolis) at Historical Museum of Santa Catarina. The event is supported by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and the Ministry of Culture of Brazil. At the occasion, the government official stressed the work of various organisations from the State of Santa Catarina in the "research, recovery, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage inherited from Azorean emigrants for over 260 years."
"As this work portrays and disseminates Azorean history and culture that is present in Brazil, it becomes such a valuable tool to promote the image of the Azores and their people in the lands of Vera Cruz" said Paulo Teves. In this regard, the government official added that "the establishment of the Municipal Lace Maker Day and the creation of the Reference Centre of Bobbin Lace in Florianopólis confirm the importance and relevance of Azorean culture among the people of Santa Catarina, a legacy left by the Azorean couples who arrived in the old Vila do Desterro."
"We are pleased to see that bobbin lace, a craft technique brought by Azorean settlers from 1748, is part of the heritage of this state and is recognised by various entities, from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture to Municipality of Florianópolis, as an art that deserves to be preserved and disseminated," said the government official.
Paulo Teves also recalled that the Regional Government has joined "this essential goal in the life of several institutions in Santa Catarina, recognising the added value that the workshop "Bobbin Lace: from Santa Catarina to the Azores" has brought to the Azores. Held in 2014, this initiative was intended to teach 30 unemployed women the technique of bobbin lace, so that they could to able to create family businesses or cooperatives in the future."
The Regional Director also highlighted the importance of the "cultural revival in Florianópolis," mentioning that the Municipal Secretariat for Culture has created the Lace Centre, located in the Public Market of the capital of Santa Catarina. This project aims to disseminate lace crafts and, together with the Franklin Cascaes Foundation, encourage the organisation of lace maker' associations and cooperatives; there are already 20 different cooperatives only on the island of Santa Catarina.
The launch session of the book, authored by researchers Maria Arménia Wendhausen and Carin Machado with photography by Jone de Araújo, was also attended by the Municipal Secretary for Culture, Luiz Moukarzel, and the 80 lace makers who keep this centuries-old tradition alive on a daily basis.
Before attending the book launch session, Paulo Teves participated in the opening of the exhibition "Bobbin Lace from Florianópolis." It consists of a set of 25 panels on display outside the Historical Museum of Santa Catarina at Praça XV de Novembro. The event had the support of the Regional Government and the Municipality of Santa Catarina.