The Way of Art, a project promoted by the Livraria Lello Foundation, has the mission of connecting Porto to Santiago de Compostela through contemporary art, thus creating the longest and most visited art stage in the world, spanning more than 260 km.
The Way of Art is therefore a cultural and social route inspired by the Camino de Santiago, which brings together tradition and contemporaneity through artistic creation. Installations, performances, and interventions along the territory bring to life a participatory experience, engaging artists, communities, and visitors, and transforming the act of walking into a cultural and human discovery.
“The Way of Art is the path of beauty and spirituality to Santiago.”
— Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Vatican
The Way of Art brings to Porto, Northern Portugal, and Galicia a 261 km trail of contemporary art between Porto Cathedral and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral — hosting works by national and international artists along the way. The project took a major step forward in 2023 with the signing of a protocol that unites the Portuguese municipalities along the Way of Art, the Regional Directorate of Culture of the North, and Porto and North Tourism.
The Way of Art, which is part of the route between Porto and Santiago de Compostela, begins at the Open Sculpture, designed by Siza Vieira. This sculpture, with its different angles and transitional spaces, marks the starting point for the installation of 60 artworks along the path.
ACRESCER is a subproject of The Way of Art, promoted by the Livraria Lello Foundation, which works with young people in situations of social, economic, and educational vulnerability. Its purpose is to foster school retention and success through a transformative experience that combines the exploration of the Camino de Santiago with artistic practices. In partnership with the municipalities of Viana do Castelo and Vila Nova de Cerveira, it involves 285 young people from Northern Portugal.
Grounded in the power of art as a tool for inclusion, ACRESCER nurtures personal skills, strengthens self-esteem, and creates opportunities for social participation. Self-discovery walks, creative workshops, and artistic interventions in public spaces invite each young person to explore their potential, reinforce their bond with the community and territory, reduce the risk of school dropout, and stimulate civic engagement.
ACRESCER carries out its intervention in several stages, beginning with the selection of young people at risk of dropping out of school, identified by criteria such as low participation, socio-emotional fragility, or other situations of vulnerability. This is followed by an immersive experience along the Camino de Santiago, combining walking, sharing, and reflection with artistic workshops — painting, sculpture, poetry, photography, or collage — guided by guest artists.
The methodology integrates physical, emotional, and creative dimensions into a unique journey. Walking represents each young person’s personal path, while the artistic activities awaken emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and strengthen the sense of community. The process culminates in the creation of urban artworks, exhibited in public and digital spaces, so that the transformation may be shared and celebrated by the whole community.
ACRESCER aims for 85% of participating young people to significantly improve their self-esteem and commitment to schooling, leaving behind works and experiences that reinforce their connection to the territory. More than a one-off intervention, it establishes itself as a model of social transformation that unites art, education, and community.
