The Executive Director of Faz Cultura met this week with Cali’s Secretary of Culture, Leydi Higidio, as part of his participation in an initiative held in the Colombian city under the European Union programme International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America and Caribbean (IURC-LAC).

Both cities are part of the Media Arts cluster of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and signed a twinning agreement in 2025, strengthening the connection between their creative ecosystems. This cooperation has translated into concrete initiatives focused on artistic mobility, co-creation and the sharing of innovative cultural practices. Recent examples include the participation of Braga-based artist and researcher Bruno Mesquita in SucursalFest in 2025, and the planned residency in Braga of Colombian artist Garniel Mesek later this year. These exchanges aim not only to increase the international visibility of artists but also to foster new collaborative networks.

This work is part of a broader strategic vision shared by Braga City Council and Faz Cultura, which positions culture as a driver of innovation, economic development and international projection. Beyond Media Arts, the goal is to diversify areas of cooperation and create opportunities in disciplines such as dance, theatre and music. In this context, Nuno Gouveia highlighted the ambition to deepen this relationship: “We want to expand this partnership into other cultural fields and create platforms that enable ongoing collaboration between artists and institutions from both cities.”

At the same time, Nuno Gouveia represented Braga at the IURC-LAC meeting, where the city leads a sub-network dedicated to the night-time economy, in collaboration with Buenos Aires, Genoa and Salvador da Bahia. This participation reinforces Braga’s role in international urban cooperation networks and in shaping innovative public policies. The institutional agenda also included meetings with María Eugenia Lloreda, advisor for Innovation and Economic Development to Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, as well as bilateral meetings with representatives from the departments of Economic Development, Tourism and Social Welfare. These contacts made it possible to identify new opportunities for collaboration across areas intersecting culture, innovation and urban development.

Through this strengthening of relationships, Braga consolidates its position as a creative city on the international stage, investing in strategic partnerships that value talent, promote cultural diversity and open up new perspectives for the cultural sector.