Cultural Agents and Local Interest Projects

The Corvo Vivo Association is a local non-profit organisation that plays an important role in promoting cultural, social, and community life on Corvo Island.

With a strong connection to the island and its people, the association develops initiatives and projects that highlight local identity, encourage civic engagement, and foster active community participation in areas such as culture, environment, heritage, and activities of collective interest.

Its work contributes to strengthening social cohesion, preserving Corvo’s traditions, and creating opportunities for connection, sharing, and community development, making it an important partner in the life of the island.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/ACorvoVivo

Through a series of interviews and personal testimonies, the project brings together life stories, experiences, and perspectives from the local community, contributing to the documentation and appreciation of Corvo’s intangible heritage.

Caixa Negra stands as a living record of the island’s recent history, fostering connections between generations and strengthening a sense of belonging, while safeguarding Corvo’s human and cultural legacy for the future.

Watch the episodes here.

The project aims to showcase documentary works outside commercial circuits, often made available free of charge, many of which result from projects and initiatives by national and international cultural associations and universities.

Rather than passive viewing, the sessions are designed to encourage open discussion among participants, focusing on themes such as memory, community, history, literature, intangible cultural heritage, urban life, and rurality.

Through regular activities, workshops, and public performances, the project encourages community involvement, offering opportunities to explore different dance styles while fostering both artistic and social skills.

More information:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089373443215

More information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582435795774

The Memory Network project was born from the desire to preserve these stories — the fragile threads of a movement that is at once daily and timeless.

The initial phase focused on the islands of Corvo and Flores, in this western edge that is not an ending but a beginning — as much Atlantic as it is European. From there, the journey continued, again embracing Flores and extending to other island contexts. Voluntary testimonies were collected through audio recordings and photography.

The collected (and curated) material is shared on a dedicated platform, serving as a repository of lived experiences and forming a true network of memories.

What do these women have to tell us about childhood, about growing up as islanders and as women? The hands revealed here carry the shape of the islands and the strength of the sea — let us walk alongside them.

(Vânia Chagas)

More information: https://rededememorias.wordpress.com/

A dedicated digital platform has been created to gather and share these sound recordings, presented in an almost raw form. The author’s recordings from across the nine islands continue to be added to the platform, building an evolving archive of auditory experiences.

Residents and visitors are also invited to contribute their own recordings, encouraging collective participation in a process of active listening.

Because these islands are not only breathtaking visual landscapes, often captured and shared endlessly, but also rich and distinctive soundscapes. So pause. Close your eyes. Listen. Feel.

(Gustavo Fernandes)

More information: https://ilhasaescuta.epizy.com/rescue-page/index.php?i=1

The group عادة meets twice a month for reading sessions, where participants come together simply to read in silence. At these gatherings, everyone is free to read whatever they like — there are no predefined authors or themes, and each person chooses freely.

At the end of each session, there is an informal moment for participants to share their reading experiences, should they wish to do so.

Because reading is, above all, an act of freedom.

Throughout its history, it faced periods of significant difficulty, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, due to strong emigration and the impact of compulsory military service during the Colonial War. Its revitalisation gained momentum with the Azores’ Autonomy, which brought new cultural support, enabling the restructuring of the band, the creation of a music school, and the acquisition of instruments.

A major reactivation took place in 1991, with the formal adoption of statutes and the election of a management board, supported by the Municipality of Vila do Corvo both financially and logistically.

Currently composed of 26 musicians — mostly young people — the band actively participates in religious festivals, cultural events, and official ceremonies. Although it does not have a resident conductor, it regularly welcomes guest conductors from various backgrounds.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/LiraCorvense

This initiative aims to showcase traditional flavours, local products, and traditional know-how, encouraging their promotion as distinctive elements of the territory and as drivers of sustainable tourism.

Through Taste Corvo, the Municipality contributes to promoting the island’s gastronomic culture, strengthening the connection between local producers and the community, and enhancing the recognition of the authenticity and quality of Corvo’s products within the Azorean context.