The Regional Director for the Communities highlighted in the United States of America that "the Regional Government's support for projects aimed at the dissemination of the Region in the diaspora has contributed to the increase of student field trips in several areas." 

Paulo Teves spoke at the opening of the exhibition titled "Seeing the Archipelago: A Student Exhibition of Photographs of the Azores Islands" at Moloney Hall, University of Massachusetts - Lowell. On the occasion, he emphasised "the connection" that has been established between university students and the Azorean community sharing the same geographical space, which "arouses in many students, even without any ties to the Azores, a curiosity to know our reality." And this exhibition "is the result of this work." 

“In this exhibition, we can see that the young students, who visited several islands for the first time, have managed to capture the essence of our identity. It is the result of the work previously carried out with our community residing in Lowell that is, once again, recognised and appreciated," said the government official. 

The Regional Director for the Communities also congratulated the University of Massachusetts - Lowell and, in particular, the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies for supporting and encouraging activities that have “contributed to the affirmation of Azorean identity” in this US state and to the dissemination of the Azores. In this regard, he noted that "a second edition of this project with new students is scheduled for this year in partnership with the Regional Government." 

"Seeing the Archipelago: A Student Exhibition of Photographs of the Azores Islands" is an exhibition composed of 31 photographs. It is the result of a trip to the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa in 2019 by a group of 10 students, following a photography course promoted by the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell in conjunction with the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies. The initiative was supported by the Regional Government.

The course included reading, research and photography in the areas of cultural studies, history, oral and folk literature in the Azores as well as an elementary intensive Portuguese course. The aim was to develop, among students, the ability to document stories through the production of written materials and audiovisuals in order to explore the ties between the Azorean community of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the Atlantic islands. 

During the trip, students participated in classes and lectures about the Azores and its architecture and geology, having also gone on tours throughout the island of São Miguel together with students from the University of the Azores.