CAMINHO DA ARTE’ BRINGS THE INSTALLATION OF 60 WORKS OF ART ALONG THE WAY OF ST. JAMES

The former coordinator of the ‘Caminho da Arte’ project, promoted by Lionesa - Association of Art, Culture, and Tourism, Paula Silva, stated that 30 pieces would be installed in the Portuguese territories of the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela, and the remaining 30 in the Galician territories. She mentioned that the initiative will extend over time, with an estimation that an artwork will be installed later this year.

The "Caminho da Arte" project is promoted by Lionesa - Association of Art, Culture, and Tourism, with the support of the Portuguese municipalities crossed by theWay of St. James, the Regional Directorate of Culture of the North (DRCN), and the Tourism Porto and North of Portugal (TPNP).

The Portuguese Coastal Way of St. James crosses several municipalities in Portugal, including Porto, Matosinhos, Maia, Vila do Conde, Póvoa de Varzim, Esposende, Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira, and Valença. The project will be financed through sponsorship and funds from cross-border community programs, including the Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal Cooperation Program (POCTEP), Interreg, and Portugal 2030.

The "Caminho da Arte" project aims to integrate contemporary art along the Way of St. James, creating new points of interest and enriching the existing heritage. It seeks to attract a specific audience interested in contemporary art, contributing to the overall experience of the Ways of St. James. The goal is to install traditional artworks as well as artistic interventions of various kinds, including functional artistic interventions such as rest areas designed by artists or pavements designed by artists.

The president of Tourism Porto and North of Portugal (TPNP), Luís Pedro Martins, emphasized the importance of monitoring the opening of funding lines for the cultural project to advance. The project aligns with the ongoing effort to enhance the experience of the Ways of St. James, acknowledging the diverse motivations that drive people to undertake this journey.

The signed protocol marks the beginning of the "Caminho da Arte" cultural project, representing a synergy between the cultural and heritage aspects of the Ways of St. James, enhancing the overall value of the pilgrimage experience.

The first artwork presented under this project is titled ’Temple’ and is authored by architect Siza Vieira. The architectural sculpture aims to highlight the historical significance of the Monastery of Leça do Balio on the Portuguese Ways of St. James.

The Ways of St. James are ancient routes followed by millions of pilgrims since the discovery of the tomb of the apostle Santiago in the early 9th century.