The first ‘Arts with Purpose’ Gala to mark World Cancer Day will take place on Wednesday, February 4, at the Maria Campina Algarve Regional Conservatory in Faro, starting at 6.30pm.
Organised by the Algarve Oncology Association (AOA), the event is expected to sell out all 404 seats, establishing itself as one of the region’s most significant moments of culture and solidarity.
The organisers say the ‘Arts with Purpose’ Gala is rooted in the belief that art and culture play a vital role in fostering resilience and wellbeing.
The evening’s programme has been designed to celebrate life, bringing together music, dance and visual arts in a narrative of strength and overcoming adversity.
The event honours the legacy of the association’s founder, Dr Santos Pereira, whose humanist vision continues to guide AOA today. This spirit of mission lives on through the dedication of Dr Maria de Lurdes Pereira, Maria José Pires, Jaime Ferreira, Virgínia Canário and Luísa Santos, whose vocation and sense of service remain the driving force of the institution.
Thanks to this commitment, AOA now operates two mobile Breast Cancer Screening Units and continues to mobilise the community towards its next major goal: the construction of Casa Flor das Dunas, a residential home in Faro for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Event highlights
- Exhibition of Resilience: An exhibition featuring works by Algarve-based artists; artwork by students from the Montradartekids School of Visual Arts for Children and Young People, the only school of its kind in the Algarve (and possibly in Portugal!), guided by visual artist and teacher Vanessa Barreto; works by visual artist Stela Barreto; AOA collaborator and artist Lia Rodrigues; artist Daniela Guerreiro; and artists who are members of Association 289.
- Solidarity catering: Prepared by volunteers, with a focus on healthy eating.
- Community involvement: Participation by students from Class 9C of Escola D. Afonso III, with parents contributing homemade cakes; volunteers from AOA and the University of Algarve (UAlg); active involvement of Conservatory students; the choreographic creation ‘6 Senses’ by Patrícia Elias, Clinical Psychologist and choreographer, performed by AOA members at different stages of their cancer journey, with the support of Contemporâneo Fusion; and a performance by Real Tuna Infantina.
“This evening is a powerful affirmation of the strength of our community and of AOA’s mission,” says Dr Maria de Lurdes Pereira, Chair of the Board. “By marking World Cancer Day through art, we are telling every patient and every family that resilience is a journey we walk together.”
For tickets (donation-based), go to aoa.pt/produto/6030 and directly at the Algarve Regional Conservatory.
