University of Évora launches cultural corridor between Alentejo and Extremadura

A research project by the University of Évora has identified approximately 600 cultural agents and entities in the Alentejo region, significantly increasing the previously recorded figure of 150. Coordinated by researcher Maria Zozaya-Montes through the CIDEHUS center, the Bridges – Cultural Bridge project aims to highlight a diverse ecosystem that includes associations, philharmonic groups, and independent agents often overlooked by official statistics.

The project advocates for increased investment and stable support for these cultural structures to foster social cohesion and civic participation. Using interactive maps and strategic recommendations, the initiative seeks to influence public policy to better recognize the region's cultural fabric.

In a related development, a strategic alliance named ‘The Culture Frontier’ has been launched in Évora. This initiative brings together 24 cultural entities from Portugal’s Alentejo and Spain’s Extremadura to create a transborder cultural corridor. The alliance, formalized through the Declaration of Évora, aims to facilitate the circulation of artists, exhibitions, and performances between municipalities such as Évora, Elvas, Badajoz, Mérida, and Cáceres, transforming the border into a space defined by cultural exchange.