The Regional Directorate for Communities stated in Ponta Delgada that the immigration phenomenon in the Azores "contributes to valuation and diversification" of the cultural heritage of the archipelago.

Paulo Teves spoke Friday at the opening of the exhibition "Migration and Diversity: Inclusive Azores," stressing the importance of migration on the daily life of the archipelago. In this regard, the government official emphasised the implementation of projects that promote the "convergence of migrations, whether immigration or emigration, as a vital contribution to a healthy coexistence between peoples and cultures, through the adoption of good integration practices in several host societies."

"The Government and the institutions working immigrant on a daily basis aim to promote their full integration as well as to create spaces for the dissemination of the cultural specificities of the countries where their roots are embedded," stressed the Regional Director." According to him, "it is important to not only acknowledge the presence of immigration, but also to encourage it to take part in the construction and development of the Region."

In this regard, the government official noted that the works on display at his exhibition, "besides demonstrating cultural diversity" in the Azores, "represent the will and the unique interest of each artist to find the inspiration in the archipelago for expressing their art."

The exhibition features works created using different techniques in the fields of plastic arts and crafts, namely painting on canvas and fabric, ceramics, pallets, jewellery, patchwork, pictures on eucalyptus leaf and tracing paper, among other techniques. The pieces were made by immigrants from Brazil (Érica d`El-Rei Perello), Cape Verde (Mário Moreira), USA (Susan Burkat Trubey), France (Anne Bruyere), Mozambique (Julieta Tovela) and Russia (Maxim Pavlov) as well as by an Azorean emigrant who returned to the Azores (Marc Garcia).

In his speech, Paulo Teves also pointed out that this initiative, taking place during the Holy Christ of Miracle Festivities also intends "to pay tribute to the migration paths of all individuals who left their homeland, especially Azorean emigrants visiting the Azores."

The exhibition "Migration and Diversity: Inclusive Azores" is promoted by the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary for External Relations, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and is organised in collaboration with AIPA - Azores Immigrant Association, ARRISCA - Regional Association for Rehabilitation and Socio-Cultural Integration of the Azores and Cresaçor - Community Centre for Immigrant Support. It will be open to the public at the Chapel of São José Parish Church in Ponta Delgada until May 14.