‘In culture, everyone counts! This is just how it goes!’ is the motto of the new project ‘Empurrão Cultural’ launched by Fundação Bracara Augusta and CERCI Braga, which has as a partner the entity Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, through the Museu dos Biscainhos and Museu D. Diogo de Sousa. This movement, which aims to encompass other social and cultural entities, as well as the business sector, also has a partnership with the Municipality of Braga.
This pilot project arises within the scope of the international project ISA Culture, led by the Bracara Augusta Foundation and financed by the Erasmus + program, with the aim of promoting participation and social inclusion, particularly in Culture, of socially and/or socially disadvantaged groups. or intellectual. The initiative aims to associate companies with this “movement of inclusion through culture, cultural democratization and promotion of cultural practices”.
“The objectives surrounding this initiative are very much in line with Braga’s strategy of promoting accessibility to culture, heritage and museums, in a comprehensive logic for the population as a whole”, explained Ricardo Rio, president of Braga City Council, during the signing of the protocol between the Bracara Augusta Foundation and the entity Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, which took place today, at the Museu dos Biscainhos.
Through this project, at the end of 2023, a population survey was developed regarding Cultural Participation in Braga, with scientific support from the Braga Regional Center of the Portuguese Catholic University, whose data indicate that, although part of the respondents are satisfied with the time dedicated to culture, the majority would like to participate more, citing the lack of free time, associated costs, and lack of information about programming as the main barriers. These results are in line with national studies and surveys, which also point to the lack of company as a factor inhibiting greater cultural practice.
Analysis of the results reveals a considerable interest among Braga residents in culture, with a strong inclination towards activities that allow interaction with the city’s historical and artistic heritage. However, significant barriers related to financial and informational accessibility were identified. The respondents’ suggestions point to the need for a more inclusive and diversified cultural promotion strategy, which includes more accessible prices, better publicity and programming that covers a wider range of interests and availability. This study suggests that there is potential to increase cultural participation in Braga and that this can be achieved through more inclusive cultural policies adapted to the needs and preferences of residents.
“It is very important that there is this scientific and rigorous study that serves as a basis for justifying the strategies to be adopted. In the results presented, we quickly realized that there is still a huge amount of work to be done to make all of our cultural heritage and museums more accessible to citizens and certain segments of the population”, highlighted Ricardo Rio, highlighting that reconciling accessibility to Culture with inclusion , “it is a very virtuous strategy” and that this project “has a lot to gain from the involvement of cultural facilities and the business fabric”.
For his part, Miguel Bandeira, president of the Board of Directors of the Bracara Augusta Foundation, said that this project aims at “a collective mobilization around Culture, and this implies a ‘push’ on the part of companies, institutions and schools, in strengthening and bringing cultural dynamics closer”, launching the challenge to companies and institutions to mobilize around this project.
This session was also attended by Claudia Leite, representing the entity Museums and Monuments of Portugal, Carla Cardoso, from the Braga Regional Center of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and Vera Vaz, president of CERCI Braga.
