The Creative Tourism Network had the privilege of speaking at the UNESCO Annual Creative Cities Conference, at the invitation of the Municipality of Barcelos, co-organizer of this global event, which brought together almost 1,000 delegates from all over the world.
The city of Barcelos, named Creative City by UNESCO for the importance of its Crafts and Popular Art sector, has also been labeled Creative Friendly Destination by the Creative Tourism Network to recognize the relevance and excellence of its creative tourism program. On this occasion, the Barcelos Municipal Councilor in charge of Culture, Tourism, and Crafts, Maria Elisa Azevedo Leite Braga, was presented with the official certification by the director of the Creative Tourism Network, Caroline Couret.
Couret expressed his admiration for Barcelos’ pioneering strategies and excellence in implementing projects that help create a strong connection between residents and the craft community, paving the way for a sustainable creative sector.
Indeed, a city of artisans and, more than anything, of ceramists, Barcelos is not only renowned for being the cradle of the Rooster of Barcelos, the emblem of Portugal but also represents a model to follow, as the city does everything possible to support the sector’s vitality and encourage a new generation of artisans. As the capital of just under 120,000 inhabitants, the Barcelos sector represents 40 companies and employs approximately 8% of the country’s working population.
In addition to its unique creative tourism offer in the world, the city has also restored the Pottery Museum and the Medieval Tower, converting them into creative spaces dedicated to cultural activities, allowing the continuity of the transfer of artisanal knowledge from one generation to the next. other.
To effectively strengthen the creative sector, the Council implemented the Creative Attraction program to support the field’s professionalization, certify local productions, and promote local crafts and arts during national and international events. and encourage creative tourism initiatives.
As part of its Strategic Plan for Sustainable Urban Development, Barcelos is renovating a series of historically significant buildings and sites in the heart of the medieval city to provide new spaces dedicated to creating and promoting culture in the region.
These actions are brilliantly orchestrated by the team of La Maison de la Créativité, a space for creative experiences, training of the artisanal community, innovation for the digitization of the artisanal community, and a center for creative experiences with traditional arts and crafts.
The House of Creativity therefore organizes training workshops throughout the year allowing travelers and locals to rediscover the ancestral know-how of Barcelos, such as embroidery, weaving, making giants, or of course, ceramics, to name just a few.
