The Iberian Mask Academy (Academia), based in Bragança, is a non-profit cultural association of Iberian scope; its members come from Spain, Portugal and Brazil, but it is also open to other countries that somehow identify with the general theme of the Iberian mask and, in particular, with the preservation of traditional festive rituals.
The objectives of the Academy:
To promote the study, preservation and dissemination of the rituals associated with the Iberian mask;
To cooperate with other associations and groups related to masks in organising activities;
To value the work of mask and costume artisans;
Promote mask rituals with the help of new information and communication technologies; Collaborate with municipal, regional, national and other entities in the organization of
events on the theme of masks, such as congresses, conferences, publications, exhibitions, etc.;
To promote traditional music related to the cyclical masked festivities;
Collaborate with museums and cultural centres in supporting initiatives related to the promotion of
masks.
Activities
To achieve these objectives, the Academy has carried out the following types of activities: Organising or collaborating with other entities in the organisation of events related to masks; Studying and promoting cyclical masked festivities;
Organization of exhibitions of masks or other forms of artistic expression;
Supporting masked artists and craftsmen in meetings, fairs, exhibitions, debates, etc.;
Collaboration with traditional bagpiper groups; Collaboration with audiovisual producers and the media; Production of audiovisual documentaries;
Publishing work on masks and supporting researchers and students with different levels of training;
Administration of the Academy's website: https://academiaibericamascara.org/ . Sections: Events - Artists - Gallery - Documentation - Publications.
In summary
Since its establishment in 2007, the Academy has carried out numerous activities to promote the mask and its festive rituals in its geographical area of coverage. However, we have to admit that the work is enormous and that we are too few in number to achieve the important goal we have set ourselves, which is to recognise the festivities that include masked masks as a value of the intangible cultural heritage of Spain and Portugal. For this reason, the Academy expresses its willingness to receive all initiatives and persons interested in this subject. Regardless of what we have already achieved, there is still much to do. We are aware that this work belongs to everyone and everyone must be included: local groups, town halls, associations, public and private entities… It is only by working together that we will be able to protect and enhance this heritage that belongs to us all, and it is urgent to preserve it as one of our most emblematic cultural assets.
AIM Academia Iberica da Mascara
Address: Rua D. Carlos I, 171 – Cidadela 5300-025 Braganca PORTUGAL
https://academiaibericamascara.org
