Barcelos hosts national ceramics congress for 17 municipalities

The II National Congress and Exhibition of Cities and Villages of Ceramics commenced at the Convento de S. Salvador de Vilar de Frades in Barcelos. The event brings together representatives from 17 Portuguese municipalities to discuss the preservation of heritage, technical innovation, and economic strategies for the artisanal sector.

Key speakers, including Barcelos Mayor Mário Constantino Lopes and Manuel Vitorino, president of the Portuguese Association of Cities and Villages of Ceramics (AptCVC), highlighted the importance of the industry. Lopes specifically noted the recent inclusion of ‘Figurado de Barcelos’ in the National Inventory of Immaterial Cultural Heritage, reinforcing the city’s status as a center for craftsmanship.

The program includes theoretical debates, live demonstrations by potters and ceramicists, and site visits to the Pottery Museum, the Medieval Tower, and local traditional workshops. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Municipality of Barcelos, the Pottery Museum, and the AptCVC to promote cooperation among member municipalities and support the economic development of the ceramic sector.