From Fenais to Fenais: Local Development for Culture

About this project

<p style="text-align: justify">From Fenais to Fenais addressed the growing disinterest in the coastal cultural and natural heritage among the local population, as well as the high number of social welfare beneficiaries in the north coast of São Miguel Island, particularly in the parishes of Fenais da Luz and Fenais da Ajuda. It tackled these challenges by rehabilitating two properties of municipal interest, assigning them new functions, and establishing Territorial Consortia for their management. The project also created permanent heritage exhibitions, supported three culturally-based community businesses—generating 15 jobs, 12 of which for socially excluded individuals—and developed local initiatives like a Network of Community Gastronomic Laboratories. &nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Key outputs included training for cultural agents, thematic booklets, and strategic sustainability plans for the targeted areas. The project fostered community engagement, co-created development projects, and integrated heritage into local growth strategies. Beneficiaries included local residents, who gained employment and skills, and the wider community, which saw enhanced cultural and natural heritage preservation. Unforeseen outcomes, such as territorial brands and spin-off projects, further enriched the initiative. The project’s innovative methods and lasting impact, including plans for a knowledge centre, ensured its sustainability beyond the funding period.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The project greatly benefited from the involvement of four donor partners from Norway and Iceland, whose expertise enriched its implementation and long-term impact. The Arctic University of Tromsø (UiT) contributed comparative perspectives and innovative methodologies, particularly in storytelling, which enhanced community engagement strategies. The Stefansson Arctic Institute provided research-based insights, strengthening the project’s analytical framework through empirical case studies. The Húsavik Whale Museum shared practical knowledge on sustainable tourism and coastal community management, while Whale AS offered expertise in storytelling and tourism development, helping to create economically viable cultural initiatives. At a bilateral level, the collaboration led to shared learning and capacity-building. Training sessions for local cultural agents introduced new tools and approaches, such as participatory storytelling and community-led development models, which improved project effectiveness. The donor partners’ involvement also fostered cross-cultural exchanges, enabling the adaptation of successful Arctic and Nordic strategies to the Azorean context. This included innovative museum activities, such as programmes to integrate migrants and retrain fishermen as heritage guides, broadening social inclusion efforts. The partnership generated lasting institutional capacity, with local stakeholders adopting sustainable practices and methodologies. Plans are in place to continue bilateral cooperation informally, with a focus on establishing a Knowledge Centre for Coastal Heritage. This centre will serve as a hub for Atlantic island heritage studies, with funding being sought to formalise partnerships. The shared methodologies and networks developed during the project ensure ongoing collaboration, particularly in areas like cultural tourism, community resilience, and heritage preservation, reinforcing the project’s long-term legacy.

Project partners

• University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway Donor project partner· Norway
• The Whale, AS Donor project partner· Norway
• Stefansson Arctic Institute Donor project partner· Iceland
• Húsavík Whale Museum Donor project partner· Iceland
• Dinamia-CET -IUL /ISCTE Project partner· Portugal
• Office of Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation Project partner· Portugal