Good practice:

Marvão International Music Festival - MIMF

A German maestro dreamed about holding an international classical music festival in Marvão. For that purpose, he invited the Gulbenkian Orchestra, brought musicians from Germany and Korea, got the support of two German foundations and the MIMF had its first edition in 2014.
At the sime time, other activities take place, including art exhibitions, concerts for children, guided tours, conferences and gastronomic events with a musical component, among others.
The quartet ensembles from different countries take to stage differente programs that combine classic and contemporary works, including a diversified program for different audiences.
According to the organization, in 2021 "about 25%" of all programming was free, with the objective of "continuing the training and expansion" of audiences, "strengthening the connection and impact" of the event in the territory where it is developed.
In 2022, the 8th edition of MIMF prepares a 10-day program with around 33 concerts and other activities, which aims to continue the work of promoting national composers and performers, while promoting Portugal as a country increasingly relevant in terms of artistic creation and production, taking profit of the characteristics of the territory in which it takes place, creating a dialogue with the historical, scenic, cultural and social heritage of Serra de São Mamede Natural Park and adjacent territories (including cross-border).

In order to carry out this project, it is essential to guarantee the financial, institutional and logistical support of many dozens of individuals and companies, both national and foreign. The overall budget of MIMF 2022 is EUR 650,000.00.

The festival's history shows us that local audiences (national and international) have a growing expression, being the first to benefit from this event, alongside with external visitors. The practice is a success due to the number of editions of the Festival, which had in 2021 its 7th edition, with 26 concerts and the participation of more than 100 musicians, having extended its territorial extension to Portalegre and Castelo de Vide (Alto Alentejo sub-region) and Valencia de Alcántara (Spain).

Organizing an event of quality and global dimension far from the main urban centers, in places with poor accessibility and communications, means facing an increased set of logistical and budgetary challenges, which require increasingly timely and meticulous planning.

Within MIMF, from the top of Marvão Castle we can hear classic music in perfect framing with the human and natural landscape. At the same time, cross borders ties are strengthened, promoting dialogue between the audience and the musicians. Over the various editions, the festival has managed to combine a wide range of artistic and diversified offerings, which are not limited to music, but also including exhibitions, cinema and contact with the historical, archeological and gastronomic heritage of this region. Thus, it is concluded that this has a high potential for transfer/replication to other regions with similar characteristics, and there must be a joint commitment of various entities in the defense, preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage, as well as in the promotion of the arts. In this way, historical spaces of singular natural beauty are being preserved, showing them in a way that they will not be forgotten and bringing countless benefits to the regions involved.