GetArt is promoting training on European funds for arts and culture on November 14 and 15 in Angra do Heroísmo. What is the purpose of this initiative, and what topics will be covered?

GetArt is promoting this training with a very clear objective: to enable cultural agents in the Azores to access European funding opportunities with greater confidence and knowledge. We know that EU funds remain underutilized in the region’s cultural sector, and we want to help reverse this situation, especially on Terceira Island, where no projects have yet been approved under the Creative Europe program. The training, therefore, aims to provide motivation, knowledge, and practical tools so that artists, associations, technicians, and cultural institutions can turn ideas into structured, competitive projects. Over two days, participants will gain a comprehensive overview of the European funding system and tools that can be applied in the field. The first part will present the overall framework of EU programs, from Portugal 2020 to the current Portugal 2030, including the specificities of the operational programs covering the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the relationship with the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The most relevant cultural programs will also be identified, and the specific context of the Azores as an outermost region will be analyzed. In the second part, the training will address the programs managed directly by the European Commission, with a specific focus on Creative Europe and Erasmus+, as well as the ARCHIPEL program for outermost regions. Examples of good practices and success stories will be presented to inspire and demonstrate, concretely, how cultural projects can be funded at the European level. Finally, the third part will be dedicated to the process of transforming an idea into a fundable project: how to interpret notices, define objectives and impact, build partnerships, organize the budget, make the necessary registrations, and structure an application with rigor. The goal is for participants to leave this training with a clear vision of the opportunities available and with the real ability to start the application process.

What led the association to move forward with this initiative? Is there a lack of support on Terceira Island for cultural entities that want to apply for these funds? Is there a lack of awareness of the funds available?

In 2021, GetArt created the GetArt Academy precisely for this purpose: to invest in the qualification of cultural agents in the region. The pandemic and other constraints have delayed the program’s regular development, but we have never lost focus, and this training marks the relaunch of that commitment. Living in an outermost region not only affects logistical or economic issues; it also involves access to training, information, and the tools that enable us to compete on an equal footing with other regions. When we talk about European funds for the arts and culture, this distance becomes even more evident. Unlike other support included in regional operational plans, this funding is managed directly with the European Commission in Brussels. This means that there is greater technical complexity, but also enormous potential that has historically been underutilized by the Azores. We are talking about millions of euros that could transform the region’s capacity for production, programming, internationalization, and cultural qualification. GetArt believes that this is not only possible but necessary. That is why we are taking this first step: to build a bridge between Azorean cultural agents and European programs through a 12-hour training course with leading experts. We are counting on Francisco Cipriano, a renowned expert in EU funds and manager of European funds at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and Sara Machado, the representative of the Creative Europe program in Portugal, who will serve as the direct link to EU instruments for cultural and creative industries. We also believe in the importance of having an alert and attentive political voice in Brussels, which is why we will be joined by MEP Paulo Nascimento Cabral, whose intervention could help strengthen the representation of the Azores within European structures. We will therefore have two days of intensive work: training on November 14 and the morning of November 15, culminating in a public conference in the afternoon of November 15 with these three key figures. The goal is clear: to create conditions for Azorean culture to cease to be on the periphery in terms of access to funding, training, and a European voice, opening doors to new projects, networks, and ambitions.

How important can European funds be in this sector in an outermost region such as the Azores? Is the support that exists being put to good use in the Azores?

European funds play an absolutely decisive role in cultural development in the outermost regions, and the Azores are no exception. The geography, scale, and distance from major cultural and economic centers create obvious challenges, but also a unique opportunity: Europe recognizes these specificities and provides its own instruments to support cohesion, inclusion, and cultural enhancement in territories such as ours. When we talk about European funds for culture, we are not only talking about financing, but also about access to networks, artistic circulation, professional qualifications, internationalization, innovation, and new opportunities for artists and cultural structures. However, the truth is that this support remains underutilized in the Azores. This is largely due to a lack of information, specialized technical training, and a culture of application. The fact that many of these programs are managed directly by Brussels, rather than through regional plans, makes the process more demanding, but not impossible. And it is precisely because we believe that the Azores have the capacity and talent to be on par with European best practices that we are promoting this initiative. In a territory with limited resources and a growing artistic community, every opportunity counts. These funds represent an open door to diversify funding, strengthen cultural structures, invest in professional training, create projects with social and cultural impact, and put the Azores on the European map of contemporary creation. It is not just a question of financial resources; it is a question of positioning, ambition, and the future of the Azorean cultural sector.

In addition to training, GetArt is also organizing a conference entitled “The Role of Culture in the New European Agenda: Rethinking European Funds in a Time of Change.” Who is participating in this meeting, and what reflection does it aim to promote?

The conference “The Role of Culture in the New European Agenda” stems from the need to place the Azores within the major European conversations. The world does not stop because we have not yet taken full advantage of these opportunities, and Europe is changing rapidly. The next European political and financial cycle (2024-2029) will unfold amid strong geopolitical tensions, war in Europe, global economic pressure, polarization, and challenges to democracy. The EU’s response is to strengthen strategic autonomy, defend democratic values, and accelerate the green and digital transition. All of this will have a direct impact on European funds, including culture programs such as Creative Europe. It is therefore essential to understand how these programs are being adjusted and how we can position ourselves. At present, there are positive signs: the 2026 Work Program reinforces priorities such as cultural diversity, innovation, sustainability, and internationalization. One example is the strengthening of support for Ukraine through artistic projects, recognizing the role of culture in reconstruction, dialogue, and peace. But there are signs of concern: cuts to Creative Europe are under discussion, despite its strategic impact and its minimal impact on the overall EU budget. Reducing cultural investment at a time of global transition is a risk we cannot ignore. It is in this context that we are promoting this conference: to provide up-to-date information, debate, and strategic vision, and to bring the Azores closer to European decision-making centers. We have brought together experts and institutional representatives with direct knowledge of these programs, believing that only through training, coordination, and participation in this conversation can the region truly take advantage of the opportunities that Europe offers the cultural sector.

In Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director.