The Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Directorate for Culture, promotes the participation of the Azores at the  82nd Lisbon Book Fair, which will be held at Eduardo VII Park from April 24 to May 13.

The dissemination of works by Azorean authors and works concerning Azorean themes are the main goals of the regional participation in this event. In this context, the Regional Director for Culture, Jorge Bruno, considers that "this dissemination promotes the importance of books and reading as well as the knowledge on the Azores in the national cultural context."

Providing readers with more than 300 titles, the Azores Pavilion gathers several works published by various entities and institutions that have joined the Regional Directorate for Culture in this initiative. This initiative comprises the following entities: "Amigos do Açores" Ecological Association, "Os Montanheiros" Association, Santa Cruz da Graciosa Town Hall, Cecília Pinheiro, Azorean Institute of Culture, Ponta Delgada Cultural Institute, Historical Institute of Terceira, Solmar Bookshop, Horta Cultural Centre, Azores Sea Observatory, Publiçor, University of the Azores, Utilnova and Veraçor.

Apart from the direct sale of publications, the Azores Pavilion will also present several cultural events to take place during the Fair opening hours. An autograph session with Pico sailor Genuíno Madruga, the author of the work "O Mundo que vi" (The World I saw) published in 2011, will take place on May 4 at 6 PM.

The market launch of the latest CD from Lira Açoriana Orchestra, recorded live at the Teatro Micaelense in 2011, will take place on April 27. Released by the Presidency of the Government / Regional Directorate for Culture and under the artistic direction of Maestro António Melo, the CD presents a varied repertoire that includes works by Azorean authors, popular music themes as well as pieces by famous composers. The CD features six recorded themes: "Nas Asas do Milhafre - Opening," an original by Hélder Bettencourt, "Pilatus, Mountain of Dragons" by Steven Reineke, "Três Oceanos," an original by Antero Ávila," "Persis, fantasia," by James L. Hosay, "Pezinho Velho," arrangement by Hélder Bettencourt, and "The Washington Post" by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Hélder Bettencourt.

The Azores pavilion will also highlight another work published by the Presidency of the Government / Regional Directorate for Culture - the Azores Cultural Route - to be presented at APEL Pavilion on May 11 at 6 PM. Under the scientific coordination of Professor Machado Pires, this project, produced by the National Culture Centre, contains over twenty articles by renewed experts on various subjects related to the Azores. The islands' history, nature and geography are depicted in an interesting work for those who have chosen the Azores as a real or imaginary destination.

The "Azores Culture" pavilion (E-D39) at the 82nd Lisbon Book Fair may be visited starting on April 24 at 5 PM in the following timetable: Monday to Thursday from 12:30 PM to 11 PM; Fridays from 12:30 PM to 12 AM; Saturdays from 11 AM to 12 AM; Sunday and holidays from 11 AM to 11 PM. The activities developed at the Azores Pavilion will be carried out by four young Azorean students.