An itinerant exhibition on regional handicrafts that combines tradition with innovation will be open to the public until the end of August.

The exhibition, organised by the Regional Centre for Handicrafts (CRAA), is currently on display at the boarding area of João Paulo II airport in Ponta Delgada in a joint collaboration with ANA-Aeroportos. It consists of a series of works created under the first edition of "Creative Residence" in 2012.

Promoted and organised by CRAA, the "Creative Residence" project is a nation-wide contest for artisans of any nationality residing in Portugal; the artisans who join this initiative are invited to create innovative pieces that combine the tradition of local handicrafts with new approaches.

In its first edition, the residence, a project with a duration of eight weeks, was installed at the Santo Amaro Crafts School on Pico Island, where the five selected artisans had the opportunity of creating pieces using the fish scales and wheat straw techniques in conjunction with artisans Conceição and Alzira Nunes.

The exhibit features several pieces, including "Namoradeira de Santo Amaro" by Patrícia Barbosa, "Lightscales" by Bruno Carvalho, "Tradição na Ilustração & as Escamas sem Peixes" by Inês Ribeiro, "Vestido de noite" by Idalina Negalha and the collection of jewellery pieces by Susana Caetano de Melo.

"Creative Residence" is another project designed to promote and innovate regional handicrafts under the CRAA's agenda, which is intended to encourage the creation of new products and attract new artisans.