The Maneuvers program is a complement to an ongoing urban regeneration and the emergence of nightlife that has positively distinguish the center of Porto. It's a "big event" that extends in time over two consecutive years, which is the preferred territory of Porto radiated from its historic center. The 2012 program has established four major areas for collective participation which is estimated to involve about 2000 people through a variety of artistic projects and others that are visible on the streets, until the 10th of October.
What was the genesis of the idea of maneuvers?
Ana Pedrosa: The idea of maneuvers arises from the mission to act in the historical center of Porto, which is an area loaded with value, but that lived on the edge of town and with the help of artists, activists and volunteers we wanted to work together, think, produce and change collectively these areas.
This event follows the collective boom that occurred in the area of the galleries of Paris, in the heart of Porto?
AP: The truth is that the area referred grew exponentially thanks to nightlife, for us it is an area that lies on the periphery of the areas where we intend to act, that is, the Sé, the Ribeira, the Victoria and Miragaia, although are very close to this agitation, are slightly apart and have another character type, function. We are talking about projects that transform routines and perspectives of these people and this is not being fun for fun.
The maneuvers have various aspects that vary depending on the area, how did you gather all these synergies, it was by accident? Or people or groups were joining up depending of the elapsing events?
AP: Compared to last year, in 2012 we made a clear distinction of four territories where we acted and we had closer connection, which are the Se, in the belvedere, which was a gathering space around which we carried out our activities, also from the viewpoint of Victoria, the Virtues and Miragaia below. For each of these areas we created an anchor project that was responsible for creating a large dynamic public space around that. Then there was a series of projects that were closely, they were itinerant, i.e. showed up in several areas. The proposals arise as the partners propose them and in all we demand that there be a public participation and open to different people. You can participate as a performer in a play, or a local café helps to garner more participants.
What was the main focus of this year Maneuvers?
AP: As I said there was this big bet on anchor locations, because we worked from May to December and the height of this movement is more visible, in a larger projection now in October, because we see behind the daily workshops we have held since last year, that there was a discrepancy between this work and the procedural time of presentation in the public space, because nobody was expecting this to happen. The big bet is that there is a project that will be presented in public space and also for other projects that stand up somehow along with the host, as is the case of the Sé, where we had the "Syncope" by Marta Bernardes, Pilgrimage, the group Skin, which spurred the students towards the people of Victoria, the Virtues, where we are more concentrated this weekend end, with the project "from my window I can see the river" of José António Cunha and Miguel Rosas and in Miragaia through Miragaia musical group, which aims to revive the traditional typical ranch of this area.
And the participation of Serralves on your project?
AP: The participation of Serralves is a process that already took place and that somehow is ended. In Serralves summer party we had on a number of projects were articulated with the maneuvers, i.e. the territory of work was the public space of the historic district, through presentation of Aldara Bizarro ball, in Sé were developed two projects in the areas of music, one of Alvin Curran, with an orchestra with 200 musicians, and other of experimental music by Nuno Rebelo. And, it was created a giant monopoly that was played in the city, particularly near the center of town and in Serralves. At this time there is no active project or is going to be presented.
Already equated the program for next year?
AP: No. The maneuvers base is relate to a communitarian fund that provides for the programming of two years, since last year and ending in 2012. We are putting the issue in collective terms on how we can continue to work, as this will not continue, so we do not have a program, we need to rethink the entire project of maneuvers.
But there will be a continuity of with this project?
AP: Yes, it will all continue. Many of our partners are looking for alternatives to their own projects, the difficulty lies in maintaining a single structure, but it was also the desire of maneuvering the teams that they find their own way, their autonomy. One of the objectives was to create conditions for institutions, organizations and artists to develop activities within the population and this is happening.
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