São Jorge "Chavões" certified with "Azorean Handicrafts" collective brand - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The "Chavões" (carved wood stamps) will be included in the list of handicraft products that can be certified by the "Azorean Handicrafts" collective brand, as announced, today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.

The certification of this typical handicraft product from São Jorge Island represents the "recognition of a unique production and a cultural and economic opportunity to distinguish its craft and heritage value," she praised.

Maria João Carreiro spoke at the opening of the Crafts Support Centre in Velas, a "new space for bringing local handicraft production closer to residents and tourists, with a view to its promotion, dissemination and marketing."

The Centre is housed in a building belonging to Velas Town Council and stems from a partnership between the Regional Government and the Association for the Development of São Jorge Island (ADISJ). It reflects "the absolute certainty of how desired this service is by the people of São Jorge and how significant it can be for the artisans of São Jorge."

The Regional Secretary praised the promotion of the craft sector on the island of São Jorge, which currently has 40 artisans registered with the Crafts and Design Centre of the Azores (CADA) and 30 Craft Production Units, including 10 certified under the "Azorean Handicrafts" collective brand.

Under SIDART - the Incentive System for the Development of Azorean Handicrafts, whose applications are currently under consideration, 14 applications were submitted this year by artisans from São Jorge, corresponding to 58 thousand Euros "for investments in qualification and innovation projects or promotion."

Maria João Carreiro also announced that CADA is preparing a new "Azores in a Box" kit dedicated to the island of São Jorge, the "Coffee Kit," which includes ceramics (cup), weaving (bread bag) and the coffee itself, thus creating another opportunity to promote São Jorge's local handicrafts.