Exchanges

During the year of 1991 the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel, as a way of enhancing Faial Island and the Autonomous Region of the Azores, decided to take its traditions and customs to the mainland Portugal, representing the Region in a Congress of the SETAA, which took place in Santarém, Loures and Almeirim.

Three years later, in August 1994, this group initiated a cultural exchange with the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Fermentelos, Oliveira do Bairro village, having participated in some Folklore Festivals.
In December of the same year, the group went to São Jorge Island and represented Horta’s county in the Triangle Gastronomy Festival.

Enjoying the experiences obtained through the cultural exchanges, in July 1997, the group participated in another exchange, this time with the Folklore Group of Andorinhas do Pinhal, from Pinhal de Frades, Seixal county, participating in two International Festivals of Folklore in Arrentela and Fernão Ferro.

In 1998, tragedy struck Faial Island with the earthquake of July 09th and it was only in 1999 that the group could finish the cultural exchange with the Folklore Group of Andorinhas do Pinhal.

In August of the same year, the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel initiated its third cultural exchange with Folklore Group of Rochão, from the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This exchange was concluded in September 2000 with the visit of the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, participating in the International Festival of Folklore from Ponta do Sol and in the Machico’s Regional Festival.

The cultural exchanges resumed again in 2002 when the group traveled to the North of Portugal, this time to Braga, for a cultural exchange with the Folklore Group of Palmeira, which was concluded in the following year.

Three years later, in August 2004, the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel returned to its roots, by participating in another cultural exchange with the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Fermentelos, concluding it in 2005.

In the Azores, the Folklore and Ethnographic Group of Pedro Miguel has already performed several times in all the islands, except Santa Maria and it is a constant participant in the Festival of Bandeiras’ Folklore, that is carried annually in Pico Island.

The Group is frequently invited to perform in hotels for visitors and tourists that are visiting the Blue Island, having already participated, several times, in the program Atlântida, of RTP Azores and RTP Madeira, both channels transmitted to the International RTP.