More information
Description
Campilhas Internacional addressed the cultural isolation and limited artistic opportunities in a rural region with an ageing, dispersed population. Designed to combat social exclusion, it specifically targeted vulnerable groups including isolated children and elderly residents through innovative cultural programming. By creating sustainable arts engagement, the project enhanced community cohesion and quality of life while addressing the area''s cultural deprivation.
The project employed diverse methodologies to ensure broad participation. Radio plays featuring original Portuguese and Norwegian scripts reached schools and care homes, while theatre workshops developed local creative skills. Notable productions included intercultural collaborations like "Blood Stories Liechtenstein" and immersive experiences such as children''s audiowalks. International artist residencies promoted cultural exchange, with artists from Norway and Liechtenstein creating site-responsive work within the community.
Key achievements include establishing permanent cultural infrastructure at Campo Cultural de Campilhas and forming an enduring amateur theatre collective. The project strengthens European cultural networks through ongoing partnerships with Norwegian organisations BIT Teatergarasjen and Franzisca Aarflot Produksjoner, ensuring continued collaboration beyond the funding period.
Primary beneficiaries experience tangible improvements: children gained regular creative stimulation, seniors enjoyed enhanced social inclusion, and local artists accessed international opportunities. The project''s legacy lies in its sustainable model - the cultural hub maintains activities independently, while international partnerships guarantee lasting artistic development. Campilhas Internacional demonstrates how targeted cultural investment can transform underserved communities, creating ripples that extend far beyond initial interventions.
Summary of project results
The Campilhas Internacional project was conceived to address multiple interconnected challenges in a rural Portuguese region characterised by a dispersed and ageing population with severely limited access to cultural activities. The area faced significant cultural deprivation, where geographical isolation and demographic decline had created a situation where residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and elderly citizens, had minimal opportunities for meaningful artistic engagement or creative expression. This lack of cultural infrastructure and programming contributed to social isolation, reduced quality of life, and limited exposure to diverse artistic forms.
One of the primary issues was the absence of sustained cultural programming tailored to the community''s specific needs. Many existing cultural initiatives in similar regions tend to be one-off events imported from urban centres, lacking relevance or long-term impact. The project recognised that effective cultural intervention required a bespoke approach, carefully designed to engage different age groups and overcome geographical barriers. For children in rural schools, the scarcity of creative educational opportunities risked limiting their cultural development, while elderly residents faced increasing social isolation with few community-based activities to foster engagement.
Additionally, the region suffered from a lack of professional artistic networks and infrastructure. Local artists and cultural workers had limited platforms to develop their practice or connect with international peers, restricting both artistic growth and the community''s access to diverse cultural experiences. The absence of dedicated cultural spaces further formed these challenges, making it difficult to host performances, workshops, or residencies that could stimulate creative exchange.
The project also identified an opportunity to strengthen Portugal''s cultural ties with European partners, particularly Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, through the EEA Grants. While Portugal has a vibrant arts sector, smaller rural communities often miss out on international collaborations that could bring new perspectives and opportunities. By fostering bilateral partnerships, the project aimed to address both local cultural deprivation and broader European cultural exchange imbalances.
Underlying these challenges was the need for sustainable solutions that would outlive the project''s funding period. Many well-intentioned cultural initiatives in rural areas fail to leave a lasting legacy due to short-term planning or dependence on temporary resources. Campilhas Internacional sought to create a model where cultural activities could become self-sustaining, with local ownership and ongoing institutional support ensuring longevity.
This project tackled a complex set of issues, including cultural isolation in a dispersed population, limited access to arts for vulnerable groups, insufficient local creative infrastructure, weak international artistic networks, and the need for sustainable programming. Its comprehensive approach aimed not just to provide temporary cultural activities, but to fundamentally reshape the region''s cultural ecosystem through targeted interventions, partnerships, and infrastructure development.
A central component was the development of radio-based programming to overcome geographical barriers. The Radioatividade initiative produced weekly radio plays featuring original scripts by Portuguese and Norwegian writers, which were complemented by interactive workshops in rural schools exploring each story''s themes. Parallel programming included Tempo de Antena, a similar radio project tailored for senior citizens, addressing their specific interests and needs. These audio productions not only delivered cultural content directly to hard-to-reach audiences but also served as springboards for community discussions on relevant social issues like racism and environmental awareness.
The project established Radio Star, an amateur theatre group that received professional training, creating a sustainable platform for local creative expression. Another significant output was Produktivism, an artistic initiative engaging unemployed participants to reinterpret their former professions through creative workshops, blending vocational reflection with artistic practice. For younger audiences, Transmission developed an innovative audiowalk experience that transformed children''s everyday environments into imaginative soundscapes, encouraging new perspectives on their surroundings.
International collaboration formed a key pillar of the project''s activities. The intercultural production Blood Stories Liechtenstein brought together artists from Portugal and Liechtenstein to create a new theatrical work scheduled to premiere in 2025. The Artist Residencies programme hosted creatives from Norway and other donor countries at the newly completed Campo Cultural de Campilhas, where they developed site-specific work while engaging with local communities. These residencies facilitated meaningful exchanges between international artists and residents, with outputs including performances and workshops that responded directly to the region''s cultural landscape.
The project''s Difusion strand curated a series of performances for diverse audiences, ensuring broad community access to high-quality cultural programming. Behind these public-facing activities, the project strengthened institutional networks through sustained partnerships with Norwegian organisations including BIT Teatergarasjen and Franzisca Aarflot Produksjoner. These collaborations yielded tangible outputs such as new theatrical texts, including Fredrik Brattberg''s The Illusionist written specifically for the Portuguese partner organisation.
Infrastructure development, despite not being financed, contributed to another critical output, with the completion and activation of the Campo Cultural de Campilhas as a permanent cultural hub. This facility now serves as both workspace and residency centre, significantly expanding the region''s capacity to host future cultural activities. The project''s emphasis on sustainability is evidenced by the amateur theatre group''s continued operation and plans for ongoing international collaborations, ensuring its impact endures beyond the funding period.
Through this multifaceted approach, Campilhas Internacional delivered an integrated programme combining local community engagement with international artistic exchange, leaving both immediate cultural experiences and lasting structural improvements in its wake. The project successfully bridged the gap between isolated rural communities and contemporary European cultural practice while establishing frameworks for continued development.
Among younger participants, the project fostered a new cultural dynamic through its innovative educational programming. Children in rural schools gained regular access to quality artistic content through the Radioatividade radio plays and accompanying workshops, which not only exposed them to contemporary literature but also stimulated creative thinking through interactive activities. The Transmission audiowalk experience fundamentally altered how children perceived their everyday environments, cultivating artistic sensibilities and new ways of engaging with their surroundings. These activities collectively enhanced cultural literacy among young participants while combating the isolation typical of rural childhoods through shared creative experiences.
For senior citizens, the Tempo de Antena radio initiative and related programming significantly improved quality of life by reducing social isolation and providing meaningful cultural stimulation. The tailored content addressed their specific interests and life experiences, creating opportunities for both passive enjoyment and active participation. Many elderly residents, who previously had limited access to cultural activities due to mobility constraints or geographical barriers, found new avenues for engagement through these accessible formats.
The project successfully established sustainable cultural infrastructure that will continue benefiting the community. The creation of an amateur theatre group through Radio Star has proven particularly enduring, with participants continuing their activities beyond the project''s formal conclusion. This initiative not only developed local creative talent but also established an ongoing platform for community storytelling and performance. Similarly, the completion of the Campo Cultural de Campilhas as a dedicated cultural centre has provided the region with a permanent resource for artistic production and education, significantly expanding its cultural capacity.
Artistic professionals and cultural workers benefited substantially from the international collaborations facilitated by the project. The artist residency programme enabled meaningful exchanges between Portuguese practitioners and their counterparts from Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland, resulting in new creative works and professional development opportunities. Notable outputs like the Blood Stories Liechtenstein production, scheduled to premiere in 2025, demonstrate how these partnerships yielded tangible artistic results while fostering intercultural dialogue. The project''s emphasis on bilateral relations strengthened Portugal''s cultural networks within the European Economic Area, with several collaborations - such as those with BIT Teatergarasjen and Franzisca Aarflot Produksjoner - continuing to develop new joint initiatives.
At an institutional level, the project enhanced the operational capacity of mala voadora, the lead cultural organisation, by expanding its international partnerships and refining its community engagement methodologies. The successful implementation of such a comprehensive programme in a challenging rural context has established valuable precedents for similar initiatives elsewhere.
The project''s most significant impact lies in its demonstration of how targeted cultural intervention can transform underserved communities. By combining immediate artistic experiences with structural development - including both physical infrastructure and human capital - Campilhas Internacional created a model for sustainable cultural provision in rural areas. Its legacy continues through ongoing activities at the cultural centre, the persistent work of the amateur theatre group, and the enduring professional relationships forged between Portuguese and European artists. These outcomes collectively represent a meaningful step toward redressing cultural inequalities between urban and rural communities while fostering international artistic exchange.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnerships were instrumental in enriching Campilhas Internacional through cross-cultural exchange and shared expertise. Donor project partners from Norway and Liechtenstein contributed specialised artistic knowledge, international perspectives, and creative resources that elevated the project''s quality and scope. Norwegian organisations BIT Teatergarasjen and Franzisca Aarflot Produksjoner played pivotal roles by facilitating artist residencies and commissioning original radio plays from Norwegian writers, which became central to the Radioactividade programme. These collaborations introduced fresh narratives and methodologies to local participants while fostering intercultural dialogue.At a bilateral level, the project presented significant artistic outputs, including co-created performances like Blood Stories Liechtenstein, developed through Portuguese-Liechtenstein collaboration. Norwegian playwright Fredrik Brattberg''s involvement resulted in new theatrical texts, while residencies by artists such as Thorgerdur Sigurdardóttir (Iceland) produced immersive site-specific works. These partnerships not only enhanced the project''s creative offerings but also strengthened institutional ties, with several donor partners expressing interest in future collaborations.The bilateral cooperation is set to continue beyond the project''s formal conclusion. Plans include further artistic exchanges, with Norwegian partners already committed to new joint productions. The established relationships have created a framework for ongoing cultural dialogue, ensuring the project''s legacy of international collaboration endures and continues to benefit both Portuguese and European artists.