The Vice-President of the Government expressed "great satisfaction" with the selection of three Azorean artisans for the final of the 2nd edition of the National Handicraft Prize, where they will represent the Region.

"I would like to express my great satisfaction to Maxim Pavlov and Rui Pedro in the "Innovation" category and to Isabel Silva Melo in the "New Talents Entrepreneurship" category for having been selected and participating in the Grand Final of the 2019 National Handicraft Prize," said Sérgio Ávila.

Promoted and developed in Mainland Portugal by the Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP), the National Handicraft Award aims to encourage handicraft production in its traditional and contemporary aspects. The event will also distinguish Portuguese artisans by showcasing their technical and professional skills as well as their aesthetic sensibility.

Moreover, this prize intends to acknowledge relevant interventions of public and private entities in the promotion of handicraft activities as well as in the encouragement of research work in arts and crafts.

In addition to wishing the three Azorean artisans the best of success in this national competition, Sérgio Ávila also called for the participation of the Azoreans to vote on regional proposals. According to him, this is a way of "recognising the quality of our artisans, our crafts and the efforts undertaken by the Vice-Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Centre Handicrafts."

The selected applications in each category will be put to vote until December 13 and the public may vote only at the address https://formularios.iefp.pt/index.php/136697?lang=pt. The final results will be released in 2020 on a date to be announced.

The 2019 National Handicraft Prize is composed of six categories: Grand Career Prize, Innovation Prize, New Talents Entrepreneurship Prize, Research Prize, Promotion Prize for Private Entities and the Promotion Prize for Public Entities.