Taking part in the Venice Biennale of Architecture "is crucial to the country"

The Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva, claimed that Portuguese participation in events such as the Venice Biennale of Architecture is crucial to the country and for Portuguese professionals to be part of international networks.

 Pedro Adão e Silva was speaking in Porto at the presentation of the "Fertile Futures" project, which will represent Portugal at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, curated by Andreia Garcia.

 The Minister also said that this participation "represents an 800-thousand-euro investment, which shows how it is considered important".

"Events such as the Venice Biennale of Architecture, yet also the Istanbul Biennial, of art, the São Paulo Biennial or the Prague Quadrennial are crucial moments for us to showcase our country, yet also for Portuguese professionals to join international networks Pedro Adão e Silva noted.

 Portuguese project is "a call for reflection"

 The Minister also claimed that "Fertile Futures" addresses "the scarcity of fresh water, taking as a starting point the concrete experience in our territory, which responds directly to the call from the biennale’s curator this year, entitled "The Laboratory of the Future".

 Adão e Silva emphasised that the Portuguese project is a "call for reflection on the new strategies to manage water resources".

 The official Portuguese representation addresses the scarcity of fresh water and the quest for solutions for a sustained management of water resources, based on seven national cases: the impact of the Gigabattery on the Tâmega basin, the breach in the convention on the Douro International, mining extraction in the Middle Tagus, the imposition of interests in Alqueva basin, the anarchy in the irrigation permitter on Mira river, the overburden of the Lagoa das Sete Cidades lagoons, and the risk of alluviums in the Madeira streams.

The proposal also involves a set of discussion labs and will be exhibited in Franchetti Palace in Venice from 20 May to 26 November.

 The thought assemblies part of the "Fertile Futures" project are open to the public free-of-charge and will be held in Venice (May), Braga (June), Faro (September), and Porto Santo (October).

 Architect Álvaro Siza is the author behind the Vatican installation

 Pedro Adão e Silva also recalled that Portuguese Architect Álvaro Siza will create the Vatican representation installation, with Cardinal José Tolentino as its commissioner. For the Minister, Álvaro Siza’s presence "is recognition in the year he celebrates 90 years".

 The 18th International Architecture Exhibition, whose curator is Scottish architect of Ghanian origin Lesley Lokko, will feature official representations from 63 countries, where Portugal and Brazil are the only Portuguese-speaking countries.

 The exhibitions and special projects dedicated to "The Laboratory of the Future", the theme, will also feature 89 architects and architectural studios, mostly from Africa and the African communities among which is Banga Colectivo, an architectural studio in Luanda and Lisbon, and Brazilian studio Cartografia Negra.