The Red List identifies artisanal activities that are endangered in the Algarve.

The Algarve has a red list of crafts that are in danger of extinction, such as cane basket weaving, but can still be saved if young people gain the “knowledge” of the craftsmen and believe in the viability of new ventures.

The Red List (“Red Book”) of Algarve craft activities was recently published in book form following an investigation that identified the risk of 26 traditional crafts in the Algarve involving 174 artisans, 16 municipalities and four artisans. associations in the region.

“The book outlines measures to preserve and preserve these arts if they are in imminent threat of extinction, and it has a set of, shall we say, more urgent measures” that must be taken to prevent their disappearance, the person in charge explained. to the Lusa agency for overall coordination of the preparation of the publication, João Ministro.

According to the general coordinator, the book “characterizes the situLista Vermelha, identifies an artisanal activity endangered in the current Algarve”, Algarve artisanal activities and indicates a set of “suggestions” so that this art does not disappear.

“Associated with these arts is a set of valencies that need to be valued and preserved. [… ] The book taught us […] that there is potential and there are people and industries interested in this activity,” said Joao Ministro.

In most cases, the Red List indicates “small activities that support the existence of some villages” and have “appropriate economic expression” for this population. Palm and reed basket weaving is, according to the book, one of those techniques that needs “urgent protection.”

“Already too few people do [cestaria de palma com cana]because this technique is quite laborious,” explains Lusa Vanessa Florido, a new young craftsman working in Lola and who has learned the technique, which was already quite common inside the municipality, following the information collected in the Red List.

As with other plant fibres, these works, which use reeds combined with palm leaves, are closely associated with rural communities that mainly lived off agricultural work and sought to supplement the family income with “other earnings”.

“Yes, I really like what I do. Initially, I wasn’t an artisan, but at some point I decided to become an artisan and take up this technique, which was a little threatening,” said Vanessa Florido, wrapping her hand around the cane, thus giving more coherence to the structure he was building.

The red list contains some warnings, emphasizing that 14 of the 26 identified activities need “urgent protection”, and one of them is already classified as “missing”: albardeiro, who makes saddles, that is, on his own. rough saddles for pack animals.

The overall average age of the 174 artisans involved in the investigation is 64 years, and the main threats they identified are the lack of economic viability of the activity, little market interest, and limitations in the transfer of knowledge.

“The good news is that they [as atividades] they have a future, we have identified, and even talking with artisans, so with those who still have knowledge, we are convinced that there is a potential for interest. Not only the interest of some people in learning, but also the interest of the public in the acquisition of objects. Not the same objects as before, but other differentiated, innovative objects,” assured Susana Kalado Martins, one of the coordinators and author of the Red List.

The researcher stated that new generations are interested in this type of work, with “many people interested in doing differentiated work, and not in repeating the same objects.”

Esparto weaving has already played an important economic role in the Algarve, making it possible to make all kinds of ropes and containers for domestic use, for work related to work in the countryside and at sea, among other things.

This art, which for several years seemed to be under threat, is being restored, and the three masters pass on their knowledge to the youngest in an old elementary school of the Estado Novo period, which has been reconstructed in the small village of Sarnadas, in the geographical center of the Algarve and on the border between Barrocal and Serra do Caldeiran.

“I love what I do and, of course, I love the company,” said Maria José Ramos, who, along with other masters, already had several groups of students to whom they passed on their knowledge.

The craftswoman worked as an esparto weaver when she was young, and when she got married she gave up this activity because “not even enough” to pay for food, but after her retirement she returned to devote herself to this work with two friends.

“Not yet [há muita procura]but we hope yes, there will be more demand and we will push it forward. I think people love it and so do I,” said Master Aldegundes Gomez.

The Red Book warns that while some artisans see some growth in market interest, many feel that this is not enough to reverse reality, namely sales, because there is no effective meeting between stakeholders and existing supply, and because there is a lack of innovation. in products that allow you to respond to the needs of today’s market.

“We used to make things that were necessary at the time, such as baskets that people who worked in the fields needed, but now we already need more modern things with different ideas, and young people are taking old techniques, but with a modern design,” said the new artisan Neuza Barbosa.

Esparto weaving is on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of “urgent protection”, which includes other activities such as carpentry, scissor chairs, carved cork or tinware.

The list of activities considered “viable at the present time” includes, for example, tiling, cauldron making, pottery and ceramics, or lace and embroidery.

“One of the main threats identified [na Lista Vermelha] it was precisely the lack of financial viability of the craft, which means that most of these artisans do not practice professionally,” said Graça Palma, also coordinator and author of a book on craft activities in the Algarve.

On the other hand, according to the methodology, it is “difficult” to involve young people in knowledge transfer processes, since most of the identified activities are not sustainable, as there are doubts about the possibility of obtaining enough income to be able to survive.

In the small village of Soidos, north of Alte, also in the municipality of Loule, Fernando Martins is engaged in woodcarving, another endangered trade with “insufficient financial viability”.

The craftsman sells the pieces he produces mainly in local markets that exist throughout the Algarve to foreigners who live in the region, but he complains that fewer and fewer people are devoting themselves to this type of activity.

In the recent past, when rural communities were practically self-sufficient, the carving technique was used to carve wood harvested from the field, which was a very common practice among men who used nothing more than a knife, chisel, and chisel to shape the “wooden tree”. spoons” and other cutlery, as well as chairs, baking utensils, braid handles and other artifacts.

The compilation of the Red List of Craft Activities in the Algarve was an initiative of the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development (CCDR) of the Algarve, carried out in the first half of 2021 by the Algarve company Proactivetur, specialized in ecotourism, creative tourism, consulting. in local development and promotion of traditional arts.