The Regional Director for Youth said today that the JUVEARTE Theatre Festival, organised by the Candelária Youth Association, contributes to the construction of a "full cultural democracy" in the Azores.

"This is a festival that reaches different audiences, but with a single common interest of absorbing personal and collective experiences through, on the one hand, satire and social criticism and, on the other hand, art," stated Pilar Damião. The government official spoke at the presentation of 15th JUVEARTE festival, which will tour the islands of S. Miguel Terceira, Faial and Flores from October 11-25.

The Regional Director praised the effort of organisers in disseminating the "work of recognised quality of young actors," highlighting the importance of this festival as a way to promote and disseminate theatre in the Azores and contribute to "the enrichment of the cultural capital of Azorean citizens."

According to Pilar Damião, the contact between groups, especially from different regions, the exchange of experiences and knowledge, and the promotion of cultural exchanges "that can foster the mobilisation of theatre groups from the archipelago as well as from other Portuguese regions and even from abroad" are other goals of this event.

The JUVEARTE Festival, held since 2000, aims to promote the work of Azorean theatre groups among other audiences and the sharing of experiences among regional, national and international theatre groups.