The Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture revealed on Friday that the Government of the Azores "is preparing a series of amendments" to the legislation on the support to cultural activities in the archipelago.

Speaking at the end of a hearing at the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, Luiz Fagundes Duarte added that the amendments to regional legislative are focused on "the promotion of popular cultural activities."

In this regard, the legislative amendments that will soon be submitted to the regional Parliament should provide, for example, the investment in the training of philharmonic bands, either in the training of musicians or their leaders, with the aim of ensuring the continuation of "this long and rich Azorean tradition."

Despite acknowledging the merits of the initiative proposed by CDS/PP towards the creation of a regional programme to support recreational societies and philharmonic bands, which is under analysis at the parliamentary commission, Luiz Fagundes Duarte said the project considers "philharmonic bands a separated case" from other initiatives as well as from other aspects of Azorean popular culture.

Mentioning the Government's proposal amending the legal framework on the support to associations, also under analysis at the Azorean Parliament, the Regional Secretary emphasised the "integrating" character of this initiative.
 
In this regard, the government official stressed that, on the one hand, this measure places the practice of adapted sports at the same level of regular sport, promoting the training carried out by Azorean clubs and the participation of athletes in various competitions; on the other hand, it encourages the participation of clubs from smaller islands.