The Government of the Azores, through the Cabinet of the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, promotes the celebration of Europe Day with several activities to be held throughout the archipelago.
The finalist videos of the multimedia work contest entitled "European Citizenship" will be broadcast on RTP/Açores after the daily news between May 4 and 9. In turn, there will be a "European Street" decorated with the flags of the European Union and of all Member States in all seats of the regional municipalities that have joined this initiative.
On May 8, the Academy of Arts on São Miguel Island will organise a series of educational and cultural activities aimed at elementary school students between 10 AM and 12:30 PM under the celebrations of Europe Day, which is marked on May 9.
The official opening of the event will be carried out by the "Mother Europe" character and will be followed by the Beethoven's Ode to Joy, which will performed by the students of Ponta Delgada Conservatory. It also includes a dance moment under the title "Europe in colours" featuring students enrolled in the Cultural Animation Course at Lagoa Secondary School.
During the morning, there will be seven workshops on topics such as cultural diversity in Europe, European costumes, countries and symbols of the European Union, organic farming, the importance of water in life or face painting. These activities will be promoted by partner institutions and associations: AIPA - Azores Immigrant Associations, Expolab, ISSA - Child Support Institute, Kairós, Free Time Occupation Centre of "Santa da Misericórdia" of Vila Franca, Maia Free Time Occupation Centre and students of Laranjeiras Secondary School.
Nearly one hundred students attending elementary schools in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa are expected to participate in these workshops. The organisation of these workshops in different places will be carried out by the "Mother Europe" character.
Moreover, the celebrations include exhibitions during the morning. The first is entitled "Models and symbols in the art of dressing" featuring dolls from Member States of the European Union, while the second is held under the title "Faces of the European Union," painted by students of Nordeste Basic Education and Secondary School.
There will also be street animation activities to be carried out by the students attending the Cultural Animation Course at Laranjeiras Secondary School.
On May 9, the celebration of Europe Day will take place for the first time on the island of Corvo, with a programme comprising two distinct moments.
The official opening will take place at Largo do Outeiro at 9 PM. This will be the venue for the delivery of speeches and the performance of the European and Azorean anthems by Lira Corvense Philharmonic Band, which will then lead all those present to the Municipal Library, together with the "March of Europe" composed of elementary school students of Mouzinho da Silveira Basic Education and Secondary School.
At the Library, the activity "Jogral da União" will present poems by Portuguese authors and excerpts from texts by Winston Churchill, Robert Schuman and Jacques Delors, followed by a symbolic release of doves by secondary school students. The event ends with the presentation of the work by artist Daniel Eime.
Daniel Eime will paint a mural depicting the faces of Jacques Delors, a great pro-European, and José Mendonça Machado, aged 96, the oldest Corvo islander. He was chosen by the population under the initiative "Corvo Citizen, citizen of Europe," which took place on this Western Group island in March to choose the face to be represented on the mural.
On May 5, the artist will deliver a lecture on "Public and citizenship: some projects in Europe" at the Library of Mouzinho da Silveira Basic Education and Secondary School. This initiative is included in the cycle of conferences under the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Government.