WATT? is an artistic project promoted in partnership by Fundação EDP and LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas in the Algarve region, with funding from Fundação EDP and production by LAC.
WATT? arises within the scope of the EDP Foundation Public Art project, with an orientation towards low density territories at a national level, as an instrument of social inclusion.
This project aims to provide access to art and the involvement of the population in new cultural experiences, as well as stimulate local development through the realization of public art works in rural areas.
The challenge in 2016 was launched and accepted with enthusiasm in the following localities, with the concern to cover the entire Algarve, from windward to leeward: Vila do Bispo, Barão de São João, Mexilhoeira Grande/Figueira, São Bartolomeu de Messines, Alte and Alportel.
Within the scope of this project 20 works of art were produced, including interventions by the artists with the participation of the community and collective interventions by the artists who participated in the project.
PUBLIC PHASES OF THE PROJECT
1st phase – Conversations with the artists – In this first public moment we presented the project and the artists to the community of each location and we were attentive to their suggestions regarding the themes of interest and possible places to intervene.
2nd phase – Presentation of the artistic proposals – We promoted a second moment, in which the artists returned to the localities to present their artistic proposals and dialogue with the population in relation to them.
3rd phase – Artistic interventions – In this phase of the project we were working on the production of public artworks by the artists in the selected localities, promoting interaction with the community that closely followed the artists’ work and participated in the two community interventions.
4th phase – Guided Visits – An itinerary including all the works produced within the scope of WATT? in the Algarve was defined and guided visits were organized, inviting the general public to discover new places and new artistic approaches. These visits also served to train local inhabitants and entities in the presentation of the works produced in their localities, in order to later organize the guided tours, and allowing these local agents to have autonomy over this initiative.
