Competences
Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs
The harmonised management of human resources, materials and logistics based on resource optimisation through the convergence of productivity regulation processes, without, however, becoming dissociated from the fact that cultural promotion and development are a means of preserving the identity and creativity of the people, fostering a balanced development of society. Cultural work also entails the coordinated and comprehensive planning of the activities of museums and libraries, contributing to the self-esteem of the local population and becoming a means to their dissemination. They also foster self-learning through strategies targeting different audiences and differentiated age groups. The activities concerning the inspection of the state of conservation of the region's heritage are, for reasons of methodological rigour, focused on a structure with the necessary analytical capacities and expeditious intervention.
Accordingly, the Centre for the Study, Conservation and Restoration of the Azores will close down. A number of companies specialising in restoration have been created over the years on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and São Jorge, which are regularly sought after for the provision of works throughout the Region. It is expected that the management of qualified employment will contribute to the development of this private sector in expansion. With the removal (or significant reduction) of this area of intervention, the Directorate of Heritage and Cultural Action Services will be responsible for the monitoring and technical supervision of the works to be carried out. There are also efforts towards a closer relation with the artistic estate held by regional museums under the direct supervision of the Movable Heritage Department.
Consequently, there will be operational cohesion and coherence of action, as red tape and administrative obstacles will be removed. Cultural Centres will also close down, considering that cultural production and enjoyment, as a means of preserving collective identity, creativity and inventiveness, foster a harmonious and sustained development of societies. This entails the interconnected and comprehensive planning of activities towards the promotion of self-esteem and promoting self-learning among diverse audiences of different age levels.
The role of the Cultural Centres of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico will be carried out by regional museums, public libraries and regional archives, through local coordination, so as to cover to the entire territory of the islands and the Region. In this context, the coordinator of the Regional Directorate for Culture on the island of Faial and the Deputy Regional Director on the island of São Miguel, together with the Regional Director for Culture, will compose a board, which will ensure the organisational structure of the different entities that make up the Regional Directorate for Culture.
Lastly, the Angra do Heroísmo Classified Zone Office will cease to exist following the provisions of Article 32 of the Regional Legislative Decree no. 15/2004/A of April 6. Considering that the responsibility for the protection and enhancement of the regional cultural heritage are assumed by the Directorate of Heritage and Cultural Action Services, the separation of the Angra do Heroísmo Classified Zone is not justifiable - neither from an administrative-financial standpoint nor from a functional level. Accordingly, the appraisal and procedural criteria are standardised and conceptual conformity is established.
