Geopalcos: Art, Science and Nature as instruments of cohesion and promotion of the aspiring Geopark Algarvensis territory

The aspiring UNESCO World Geopark Algarvensis Loulé-Silves-Albufeira is an area in the south of Portugal (total area of 1381 km²), in the center of the Algarve region, on which, part of the counties of Loulé, Silves and Albufeira, are included.

The geodiversity of the aspiring Geopark Algarvensis Loulé-Silves-Albufeira tells the story of 350 million years of Earth's history and more than 20 thousand years of the history of human occupation.

With clear and defined limits, it has a geological heritage of major importance, at national and international levels, and allies a geoconservation strategy and a set of environmental education and awareness policies, to the promotion of sustainable socio-economic development based on geotourism activities, involving local communities, contributing to the valorization and promotion of local products and producers.

With the aim of enriching and stimulating the territory of the aspiring Geopark Algarvensis-Loulé-Silves-Albufeira to become an UNESCO World Geopark, the multidisciplinary intervention program Geopalcos Art.Science.Nature happened between May and September 2021.

Geopalcos Art.Science.Nature has been designed as a biannual event that connects art, science and nature with and for the people at the territory of the aspiring Geopark. This event was born from the collaboration and participation of local populations and from a challenge to artists and scientists to think the territory as a place of creation, reflection, disquiet and dazzle.

The intention was to lead a nature lover to discover art and science, an art fan to stroll through nature and the paths of knowledge, or even a curious person to relate their knowledge to natural beauty.

The activities that materialized Geopalcos in its first edition were diverse, such as, site-specific performances, artistic installations, pathways-experiences, exhibitions, disciplinary intersections with manual arts, theatrical creations, concerts, workshops and training sessions, among other cultural and artistic events created by local artists, in collaboration and dialogue with the local community.

The success of the event is reflected by more than 3125 participants for 12 concerts, 6 exhibitions, 7 workshops, 12 walking tours, 4 artistic installations, 4 roundtables, 11 educational activities and 3 theatrical creations, involving overall more than 180 artists from the Algarvensis Aspiring Geopark territory.