The Vice-Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Centre for Handicrafts (CRAA), marks the European Craft Days from today to Sunday. It promotes a series of activities including more than a dozen workshops and the organisation of urban markets in Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroísmo featuring various artisans from several islands.
 
"What we want with the celebration of these European Days is, above all, to promote handicrafts as well as to establish a connection between the public and artisans," said the Director for CRAA at the opening of the Urban Craft Market (MUA) in Angra do Heroísmo.
 
In this regard, Sofia Medeiros stressed that "handicrafts go out, contact with the public and the public will also the artisans' workshops," through dozens of initiatives promoted in partnership with artisans, municipalities and Cresaçor - Regional Cooperative for Solidarity Economy
 
As part of celebrations of European Crafts Days, urban markets involving 16 Azorean artisans can be visited until April 2 between 10 AM and 6 PM.
 
The Ponta Delgada MUA, which runs on the north side of Matriz church, features the Craft Production Units of Andreia Cunha, Nonina, Atalhada Cultural Centre, Pele e Osso, Inês Ribeiro, Amor ao Mar, Randal Gladwin (São Miguel Island), Santa Maria Handicrafts and Megg Craft – Origami (Lisbon).
 
In Angra do Heroísmo, MUA will be held in the Old Square. It features the participation of Mariza Quadros, Cookies and Friends, Lúcia Freitas, Francisco Rocha, José Pereira, Francisco Pereira e de Ricardo Simas (Terceira Island), Sandra Cunha (Graciosa Island) and Mayumi Origami (Lisbon).
 
While these markets are being held, the city of Angra do Heroísmo host several workshops on textiles, jewellery, basketry and pottery at São Bento Pottery. In turn, the city of Ponta Delgada will organise workshops on ceramic painting, jewellery origami and work in leather.
 
Today, there will be a workshop on typography at Tipografia Micaelense (typography) that will be guided by graphic designer Júlia Garcia and master typographer Dinis Botelho. This activity aims to introduce the letterpress technique, through the handling and testing of lead and wood fonts, ornaments and engravings.
 
On April 1, the workshop on figurative ceramics will take place at Carlos César House of Culture in Lagoa, São Miguel Island, at 3:30 PM. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to make traditional clay dolls using plaster moulds .
 
The Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library and Regional Archive will host the launch of the book titled as "Doçaria Açoriana – Da História Que os Gestos Contam" (Azorean Confectionary - Of the Story That Gestures Tell) by anthropologist of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (New University of Lisbon), Teresa Perdigão, with presentation by Francisco Maduro Dias.
 
In Portugal, the European Crafts Days will be marked in the Azores, Lisbon and Coimbra. The initiative is coordinated by the Institut National des Métiers d'Art in France and is held in 18 countries.