Agenda

The 2024 edition of "Viver Abril" aims to commemorate and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the April 25, 1974 Revolution from a contemporary perspective. Based on our collective historical heritage, particularly this important milestone, in a tumultuous moment threatening peace in Europe and the world, and in an era where populism is advancing on a large scale, including in Portugal, it is especially relevant to reflect on the values of April and the health of our democracy. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly understand these phenomena: those of the past and those of the present.

Thus, in this particular commemoration, and in light of the principles of the Educating Cities movement, the Municipality of Esposende reinforces the educational intentionality in its celebration proposal, challenging civil society and, particularly, the educational community, to actively participate in this celebration. In this sense, in addition to the protocol sessions on "Freedom Day," various activities are planned, such as exhibitions, discussions, concerts, dance performances, cinema, as well as the "Catraia de Livros," which this year is associated with this event, with the theme "Living Freedom."

PROGRAM

Join us in this space of action and reflection, where we will discuss solutions for the environmental, social, and economic challenges that our semi-rural area faces. It's time to join forces with the local community of the Neiva River estuary and various actors from different areas!

Stay tuned to our program, filled with meetings & conversations, workshops, sports and nature activities, artistic, and cultural events.

The Neiva Forum Fest is an integral part of the Neiva Community Laboratory Project, a joint initiative of the Rio Neiva - Environmental Defense Association, the Municipalities of Esposende and Viana do Castelo, with the support of the New European Bauhaus.

Partners:

• António Correia de Oliveira School Group
• Artiom Bran
• Business as Nature - Nature Guardians
• Sea Center - Municipality of Viana do Castelo
• CITCEM - Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Culture, Space, and Memory
• FEBRE Collective
• European Commission / EU Policy Labs
• European Commission / New European Bauhaus Festival
• DINAMO10 - Creative Hub
• EAmb - Esposende Environment
• Esposende2000
• NICE - Cultural Intervention Nucleus of Esposende
• Municipal Program of Art and Community - Municipality of Esposende

"A Little History of a People with Memory" is a project about freedom, dedicated to the whole family. In the Portuguese heritage, there is a path associated with this concept, which quickly fades away in the course of current and mundane events. History exists in our memory, but it is important to reactivate it to rediscover it in time and space! How was it...? How was it when people couldn't say what they felt or do what they wanted because there were watchers everywhere? How was it when certain songs couldn't be heard, and movies couldn't be watched? How was it when girls' and boys' clothes were controlled? How was it when it was mandatory to go to war and fight against people who hadn't harmed us? How was it... and how is it... to rediscover this history and retell it in the present day? The research focuses on surveying these historical events and bringing them to the stage through multidisciplinary and contemporary languages to reactivate the idea of freedom and the ability to enjoy and preserve it. In the course of creation, the voice emerges, our ability to communicate, to sing, and to make revolution. "A Little History of a People with Memory" is a transdisciplinary opera that aims to sing and tell what becomes fundamental to the construction of human identity - freedom - as the foundation of our identity and history.

Free admission, with mandatory ticket reservation here or at the Foz do Cávado Pools | Suitable for ages 6 and up.

Production: Quarteto Contratempus

Co-production: Esposende Municipality

Quarteto Contratempus is a structure financed by the Portuguese Republic – Culture / General Directorate of the Arts.

Esposende Ballet Academy

"Love and Revolution" is a piece that captures the essence of a Portugal on the brink of change. In the weeks leading up to the Revolution, João, a law student and advocate for freedom, and Clara, a teacher and fervent activist, cross paths in a clandestine act of resistance. Amidst revolutionary fervor and imminent danger, an unlikely love blossoms. They find themselves united not only by the desire to end oppression, but also by the strength of a love that defies the odds.

The piece pays tribute to the courageous souls whose individual stories intertwine with the events that transformed our nation. It is a celebration of the strength of the human spirit and the ability of love to flourish in the most challenging of circumstances. It's not just a story about revolution, but a testament to the power of the human heart.

Performers: Hip-hop classes from the Esposende Ballet Academy

Artistic direction: Bruno Faria and Paula Silva

Free admission, with mandatory ticket reservation at the Esposende 2000 online ticket office and at the Foz do Cávado Pools. Show integrated into the LIVING APRIL (VIVER ABRIL) program and World Dance Day celebrations.

Ás do Saber - Dance Academy and Study Center

The Ás do Saber Dance Academy and Study Center celebrates World Dance Day with two shows full of joy and animation. With hot rhythms of Zumba and the irreverent world of fusion dance, the academy promotes the art of dancing with a show full of color, joy, and animation.

Artistic Direction: Hugo Fernandes

Admission: General €3.00 | ≤12 years old and ≥65 years old: €2.00 | Under 3 years old: Free

Tickets available at the Esposende 2000 online ticket office and at the Foz do Cávado Pools reception desk, starting from April 15th.

Take your rucksack and venture out to ESPlorar with us!

A walk to discover the various heritage sites in the municipality of Esposende, be it religious, natural, scenic or archaeological.

It's a 10 kilometre walk over gentle terrain through the village of Fão and the Litoral Norte Natural Park.

Registration at: https://www.esposende2000.pt/pt/25-desporto-outdoor/

You can see the full ESPlorar programme here.

By Vitor Machado

In a fusion between contemporary art and the ancient tradition of the Camino de Santiago, the exhibition "Echoes of the Camino de Santiago" is born.

The exhibition "Echoes of the Camino de Santiago" celebrates the cultural and spiritual richness of the ancient tradition of this pilgrimage, presenting works that embody the essence of the journey towards the city of Santiago de Compostela.

The centerpiece of this exhibition is the sculptures that convey the various moments and emotions experienced along the Camino. The main material used is pebbles, collected from the coast of Esposende, which overlap with the Jacobean routes. These are combined with metallic elements, often from reused objects, in an allusion to the items found along the pilgrims' trajectory.

Each sculpture is a visual narrative in itself, telling stories of determination, faith, and discovery. The pebbles, the result of erosion, represent the passage of time and the journey undertaken by the pilgrims. The metallic elements, with distinct shapes and varied textures, symbolize the challenges overcome and the bonds created among the walkers.

As visitors navigate the exhibition, they are invited to immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere of the Camino de Santiago. Each artwork prompts reflections on their own personal journey. Despite being static, the sculptures seem to pulsate with the energy of the pilgrims who inspired them.