2021 top 100 good practice story
TRANSCRIPT
2021 TOP 100 GOOD PRACTICE STORY
Title of the Story: AgitÁgueda – Art Festival
Destination Name: Águeda
Country: Portugal
Submitter name: Edson Santos
Email address: [email protected]
Position: Vice-president of the Municipality
Nomination Category:
☐ Localizing the destination supply chain
☐ Decarbonizing the destination supply chain
X Culture & Communities ☐ Environment & Climate
☐ Nature & Ecotourism
☐ Tourism Reset & Recovery
☐ Other
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Issues faced
At a time when commercial spaces in the city's historic area were being abandoned, and it was unattractive,
especially during the summer, when it is very hot in this area, the Municipality promoted an installation of urban
art – the umbrella sky. It promoted the shading of the street and, consequently, contributed to the reduction of
the temperature and the occurrence of heat islands. By improving the public space, several cultural events where
held, related our local culture (also with intercultural initiatives), traditions and crafts. The art installation was
such a success that evolved to “AgitÁgueda - art Festival”, an initiative of the Municipality of Águeda, held
annually for 23 days of July. Has the city is considered one of the most sustainable and creative in Portugal, the
event should also address issues and solutions for a green, clean and resilient territory (to inhabitants and
tourist).
AgitÁgueda is with free admission, allowing everyone to participate has it offers both residents and visitors a
diverse (and free) cultural program. Daily concerts, sports activities, urban art, street entertainment, crafts, food,
environment awareness sessions, and other activities are the main reasons that have attracted a number of
visitors never seen before – an average of 10.000/day – reaching about 240.000 in the total of the 23 days. With
the success of the event, also came the obstacles: being AgitÁgueda a festival that had its first edition in 2006, we
identified, and solved, issues generated by the affluence of the event, such as the lack of shade areas, the
excessive use of cars (implemented a tourist train), we improved a better waste management and the reduction
of plastic, (re)use some of the art installations, promoted energy efficiency, and in the last edition the event was
considered an EcoEvent, reducing the impact on the local community. This event celebrates life, color and
culture, promoting a sense of belonging and pride in our community.
Methods, steps and tools applied
Every year, Águeda offers a summer full of light, colour, creativity and imagination. The city streets are filled with
thousands of colorful umbrellas and countless urban art installations transforming the streets into authentic
open-air art galleries. For this reason, the arrival of Summer is eagerly expected, as it is the time when the city
changes itself into an immense hotspot of color. So, with the objective of developing shadow areas, the Umbrella
Sky Project was created. Each year, during the summer months, the city’s streets are festooned with a canopy of
colorful umbrellas, providing shade for both the people of the city and festival-goers. The installation has
developed a cult following around the world and been replicated in other cities, from Lisbon to Hiroshima.
The Municipality has put into practice projects that stand out for environmental concerns in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, thus promoting a reduction of its ecological footprint and the fight against climate change. It was
one of the pioneers in Portugal to adopt the Covenant of Mayors - a commitment for local sustainable energies,
recently subscribed the Green City Accord and is still one of the first municipalities that are implementing the
Laboratories for Decarbonization, which aim to promote the decarbonization of cities through technological
solutions such as electric mobility, which is an important contribution to sustainable mobility and increased
energy efficiency in transport. Inaugurated last October an electric charging station, which will fill a gap with the
market needs verified in the county, and it is compatible with all vehicle brands. This need comes not only from
the demand of the residents, but also from the participants of the AgitÁgueda Festival Art that has increasingly
contributed to the change of mentalities. Another way to promote sustainable mobility has been through electric
bicycles as a mean of transport for residents and visitors, and that are available for free public usage.
In order to avoid the use of cars for short distance travel and all the consequences that come with it, from
excessive energy consumption to environmental pollution, the noise and also the high occupation of public space
for parking, was developed the project "beÁgueda, electric bicycles for shared use in Águeda". This project
consists in promoting the use of electric bicycles, encouraging the practice of healthier and environmentally
sustainable behaviors, reducing vehicle circulation and offering mobility options. Nowadays, there are 14 stations
distributed throughout the county. One of the measures to reduce noise, and the bet on the use of public
transport – a touristic train is available, as the e-bikes. The Municipality has promoted the use of the railway
network as well as the existing bus connections between the neighboring municipalities, so that people can travel
to the most colorful festival in the world. The reduction of the use of own vehicles reduces not only the noise in
the city, but also the emission of GEE, the use of fuel, the improper parking, and promotes safety and tranquility
for the festivities.
To reduce the waste of plastic, in the edition of 2019, it was made a promotion of reusable cups and in the Color
Day activity, water tanks were used to distribute tap water to the participants, in order to reduce the usage of
plastic bottles. In the context of the event, was developed a survey, with 22 questions, to evaluate the impact on
the local economy, tourism and restaurants in the region where the event is located. The survey was performed,
in tablets, by properly identified and qualified people, who are the ones who question the visitors. They were
exclusively conducted in digital format, with no use of paper, and the acquired data were submitted directly to an
online platform.
Continuing the project of selective waste management, the Municipality of Águeda provided Big Bags, to the
Institutions and Associations of the County, that participate in the event, so that the waste management can be
more efficient. The municipality has a set of actions and measures to improve its performance in urban solid
waste and, in addition to the enormous environmental importance, these are also an important contribution to
reducing the costs associated with their collection and treatment. In this sense, 40 entities were contemplated
with 3 big bags - a large and reusable bag, which supports approximately 1m3 capacity each, thus making it
easier, economical and even ecological to use. This measure is also used within the scope of the AgitÁgueda Art
Festival. It is the understanding of the Municipality that the involvement of the Institutions and Associations play
an important role in the pursuit of the municipality's environmental objectives, both through involvement in
ongoing projects and also through the awareness of its employees towards good practices!
Key success factors
Nowadays Águeda is considered by CNN has one of the most colorful cities in the world! For that
contributed the AgitÁgueda Art Festival, a celebration of color and happiness, that promotes creativity,
environmental respect, equality of opportunity, maintaining social cohesion, building social capital and
minimizing social exclusion, it promotes partnerships contributing to some of the ODS 2030.
In addition to music, the event brings together a wide range of activities, such as street shows, theater
workshops, master classes of dance and urban art painting, off-hours carnival, regional food and wine, etc.
Artists of various nationalities, including locals, who come to this Festival as an opportunity to promote their
arts, also participate in a unique event that encompasses several dynamics of cultural growth, together with
local sustainability. Not only from the economic point of view, but also from the environmental and cultural
point of view. The cultural animation is a constant in the county, as it is quite rich, counting on numerous
existing associations, which, in one way or another, are actively participating in the promotion and cultural
promotion of Águeda. The local community is an active part of the entire event: from participating in
the shows as extras or even as main actors. Local associations, groups and others are invited to
streamline events. The typical food bars are handed over to local associations, so that they serve the
most typical of our cuisine, reversing the recipe for their activities, it boots local economy, and generates
jobs. The art installations, tell local legends and stories, represent typical figures of the community or
even animals of the local fauna.
All this success contributes to those who participate and organize, feel motivated to do more and better,
promoting a green, clean and resilient territory.
Lessons learned
A festival of this dimension, and attracting a significant amount of visitors, has to respect some crucial factors,
such as the preservation of the environment, the territory, culture, and traditions. One of the major lessons
learned, edition after edition, is that its sustainability and the development of good practices are essential for its
good functioning and continuity, allowing the realization of future editions. Since AgitÁgueda is a mainly seasonal
event, occurring during the summer season, why not adapt one of its best features to another time of year?
Therefore, the famous Umbrella Street was adapted to the Christmas season. The colorful umbrellas were
replaced by white umbrellas, with lighting intertwined between them. With this adjustment, and the attraction of
tourists, the local economy continues to be sustainable. With the Urban Art Itinerary increasing, year after year,
there is a need to highlight artists who pay attention to sustainability and the environmental impact that the
materials used to create their artwork will have on society and the environment. Therefore, one of the artists,
who has three pieces installed in Águeda, develops artistic installations using "garbage", such as car parts that no
longer have any use.
Results, achievements and recognitions
Nowadays Águeda is considered by CNN has one of the most colorful cities in the world! Some of the
achievements have been explained previously in the document. Nevertheless is to be notice that due to the
results and achievements, in the last few years the festival has receive several recognitions such as: EcoEvent;
Award “Municipality of the year Portugal 2015” – Categoria regional (zona centro) – AgitÁgueda – Plataforma
UM-Cidades, University of Minho, Award of “Best Touristic Promotion” – 1.ª edição dos Iberian Festival Awards –
Associação Portuguesa de Festivais de Música – AgitÁgueda Art Festival, Country winner at the Iberian Festival
Awards 2016; EFFE label 2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2019-2020; one of the World Best Festivals at Everfest site;
considered one of the best festival in the world by World best and Imagens de Marca, among others.
Additional references
Pictures and videos in youtube and https://www.agitagueda.com/
https://www.cm-agueda.pt/viver/ambiente-e-sustentabilidade
https://www.cm-agueda.pt/municipio/camara-municipal/listagem-de-premios-da-cma
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/gallery/worlds-most-bright-colorful-places/index.html?gallery=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95habq0_sPY https://www.imagensdemarca.pt/artigo/agitagueda-um-dos-
melhores-festivais-do-mundo/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHXPp_NmNs
Municipal sustainability index - https://www.cm-agueda.pt/viver/ambiente-e-
sustentabilidade/sustentabilidade/objetivos-de-desenvolvimento-sustentavel-2030