Art as a Bridge for Cultural Understanding
This Artistic Residency with the Gypsy community of Bétulas in Famalicão was centered on dialogue, writing, and photography workshops.
The primary goal was to foster a profound sense of belonging and celebrate identity through collaborative art. The visible outcomes included a community zine and posters that serve as tangible reflections of shared strengths and stories.
Note: the images are digital mockups.
From Dialogue to Creation: Community Art in Bétulas
From April to September 2024, I developed an artistic residency in the Bétulas neighborhood, Vila Nova de Famalicão, working closely with the Gypsy community. This project, supported by the Municipality of Famalicão in partnership with the Culture and Housing Divisions, centered on curiosity, dialogue, writing workshops, and photography sessions.
The residency culminated in an artistic notebook (zine) and a series of posters featuring illustrations and photographs that celebrate identity and highlight the positive aspects of the community’s cultural and social context. Both the zine and posters were shared locally, strengthening visibility and appreciation of the community’s heritage.
De abril a setembro de 2024, desenvolvi uma residência artística no Bairro Bétulas, Vila Nova de Famalicão, trabalhando em estreita colaboração com a Comunidade Cigana. Este projeto, apoiado pela Câmara Municipal de Famalicão em parceria com as Divisões de Cultura e Habitação, centrou-se na curiosidade, no diálogo, em workshops de escrita e sessões de fotografia.
A residência culminou num caderno artístico (zine) e numa série de posters com ilustrações e fotografias que celebram a identidade e destacam os aspetos positivos do contexto cultural e social da comunidade. Tanto o zine quanto os posters foram partilhados localmente, reforçando a visibilidade e a apreciação do património da comunidade.
Fanzine of Community Identity
The artistic notebook was printed and distributed within the Bétulas community and across Famalicão, sharing the participants’ creative work and highlighting community identity.
O caderno artístico foi impresso e distribuído na comunidade das Bétulas e por toda a cidade de Famalicão, partilhando o trabalho criativo dos participantes e destacando a identidade da comunidade.
Writing workshops
Manual writing workshops, using markers and Chinese ink, invited participants to explore their creativity. Selected words from these sessions were later incorporated into the community zine and accompanying illustrations.
Os workshops de escrita manual, utilizando marcadores e tinta chinesa, convidaram os participantes a explorar a sua criatividade. Algumas palavras selecionadas destas sessões foram posteriormente incorporadas no fanzine e nas ilustrações.
Celebrating Identity: Community Posters
Photographs of Bétulas residents were displayed throughout the neighborhood, celebrating the community and honoring its people.
Fotografias dos moradores das Bétulas foram exibidas por todo o bairro, celebrando a comunidade, homenageando as suas pessoas e revelando a beleza e o orgulho da sua identidade.
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