Between the 24th of October and the 24th of November, the Madeira Theme Park, the Photography Museum – Atelier Vicente’s, and the Cathedral of Funchal will hold a selection of unique activities aimed at the Madeiran population.
Today the ‘Europe in my region’ initiative under the theme ‘Madeira: our garden of stories,’ a joint organisation of the region and the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission, kicked off in Madeira. Over the next month, this initiative, which celebrates sites supported by European funds, will bring together a series of special events to celebrate the island’s historical and cultural heritage.
Until the 24th of November, the region will host unique competitions, events, and workshops, among other activities, at the Madeira Theme Park in Santana, and in Funchal, at the Museum of Photography – Atelier Vicente’s and the Cathedral, all places that were renovated with the support of European funds.
The initiative begins with the launch of a Photo Contest open to all Madeirans. This contest takes place on Instagram, through the hashtags #EUinmyregion and #JardimDeHistórias, and aims to highlight locals and initiatives in the region that have benefited from European investment. The winner will be selected by a jury composed of representatives from the region and will receive a voucher for dinner for two at the William, Reid’s palace restaurant. The best photographs will be exhibited at the Museum of Photography until the end of the year. More information about this competition can be found on the Europe Direct Madeira website. The rules are available on this page.
“Madeira is a good example of the impact that integration into the European Union has had on the development process and improving the levels of well-being of our population. We are proud of the path we have achieved and the results we have achieved, with the contribution of Cohesion Policy and thanks to the careful management and implementation of European funds, which has enabled us to guarantee the conditions demanded by the natural aspiration of citizens. That is why I consider these projects so important, since they contribute to the development of the Region and, on the other hand, help preserve its history and the memories of those who live here,” stated the Regional Secretary for Finance, Rogério Gouveia.
Monika Hencsey, Director of Budget, Communication and General Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, says: “We are very proud to show that there is a European dimension to local solutions and that joint organisations like this make a difference. This initiative is part of a broader European Union communication effort that we have implemented since 2018, in close partnership so far with more than 60 European regions. In each region, we tell the story of places and initiatives of particular relevance to regional communities, which form an inherent part of their daily lives.”
On Saturdays, November 5th and 12th, the Museum of Photography will host drawing workshops by Madeiran illustrator Roberto Macedo Alves. These activities are open to the entire population by registration and with limited capacity. Applications can be made through this form.
On the 8th and 9th of November, the Museum of photography will offer photography workshops with theoretical and practical components. Registration for these sessions can be made on this page.
In addition, the Madeira Theme Park, in Santana, will also provide workshops around Madeira flavours, Madeira embroidery, and animal care and animal welfare for schools throughout the island between the 8th and 11th of November. The organization’s goal is to involve hundreds of students between the age of 10 and 18 and give them the opportunity to learn more about Madeira’s cultural heritage.
On Sunday the 13th, the theme park in Santana will host a ‘Peddy-paper’ open to families and groups of friends, who can register for this activity through this form. This will be an opportunity for Madeirans to win prizes related to the Park while discovering the attraction and the stories it tells about the region.
To close this month of activities, the Cathedral of Funchal will host, on the 17th of November, a concert titled ‘Old Music Studio,’ by students from the Conservatory Professional School of the Arts of Madeira.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
