The Regional Director for Culture announced the Government’s goals for the safeguard of the Intangible Heritage of the Autonomous Region of the Azores at the Social Affairs Commission of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores in Ponta Delgada on Friday morning.

At the end of the hearing, Jorge Bruno said to have explained the Government’s intentions regarding the protection mechanisms of the Azorean intangible heritage, which are included in a proposal for regional legislative decree that is under analysis at the Legislative Assembly.

For the Regional Director, the legislation, once approved, will enable the register of the intangible heritage in the Azores, which is to start at a previous stage to the inventory of subjects, as any individual, group or institution may suggest or start an inventory process that will be subject to certain criteria which. If validated, the proposed subject will be registered and accepted as Azorean Intangible Heritage.

In this regard, the Regional Director for Culture stated that unlike movable or immovable heritage, intangible heritage is not classified, but rather inventoried due to its specific dynamic.

During the hearing at the parliamentary commission, Jorge Bruno also provided information on other matters regarding the activities developed by the Regional Directorate for Culture, namely the construction of a museum on the island of Corvo, stating that this was not a commitment for the present legislative period as well as the creation of an aeronautical museum on the island of Santa Maria. Regarding this subject, the Regional Director mentioned that it is not the Government’s intention to build an Aeronautical Museum, but rather to create a centre at the Santa Maria Museum in Vila do Porto dedicated to Aeronautics.

Addressing the issue concerning the painting of the stonework of the São Boaventura Convent in Santa Cruz das Flores, the Regional Director also provided information on the action taken by the Government, stressing that it has acted in the interest of preserving that building as this was considered the most appropriate technical solution to prevent the deterioration of the stonework, which had already begun to take place in recent years.