Organised by the Consulate General of Portugal in Johannesburg, in collaboration with the Portuguese Embassy in Pretoria, the Portuguese fair will be open to the public from 10 June to 11 July.
Titled ‘Portugal at Heart’, the festival celebrates both football and Portugal itself, showcasing the country’s historic links with South Africa, as well as its economic and cultural highlights.
The centrepiece and symbol of the festival is the Red Independent Heart, a renowned sculpture by Portuguese artist, Joana Vasconcelos. The iconic piece will be prominently displayed throughout the festival at the intersection of Cross and Slip Streets in the Melrose Arch precinct.
The sculpture was the inspiration for the Portugal at Heart logo and slogan – 'Live Out Your Passion' – created by designer, Gabriel Abreu, who is also creator of the World Cup logo.
The opening ceremony for Portugal at Heart takes place at 18:00 on 10 June with the unveiling of the Red Independent Heart by the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, António Braga, and the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture of South Africa, Paul Mashatile. The artist, Joana Vasconselos, will deliver a keynote address.
“The Portugal at Heart project began as soon as our national football team’s qualification for the World Cup was confirmed,” said Carlos Pereira Marques, the Consul General for Portugal in Johannesburg. “We wanted to support our team and reinforce their presence in South Africa with a range of activities that would best portray our country to South Africans and visitors.”
As Johannesburg’s most sophisticated venue and leading lifestyle centre, Melrose Arch was the natural choice of location for this prestigious event. Its people-friendly public spaces and cultured, yet vibrant, atmosphere provide an experience like no other. Plus, Melrose Arch is geared for non-stop Football City celebrations during June and July, bringing local and international fans together for a veritable football extravaganza.
“Football is undoubtedly a sport that arouses great passion, and the Portuguese are known to be passionate, emotional and spontaneous people,” says Pereira Marques. “How better to acknowledge this than by bringing an enormous, symbolic Portuguese heart to South African soil, and associating it with the best of what is produced in our country: our music; food; fashion; and commerce.”
Pereira Marques says the festival also pays tribute to the generations of Luso-South Africans old and new who represent the vibrant Portuguese community here, and presents to them an image of a modern Portugal very different to the one their parents and grandparents had known.
An associated event, the 'Portuguese Presence in Africa and the East' exhibition, being held at the Brenthurst Library, complements this group of activities perfectly, making the public aware of the historical roots and strong links that unite the Portuguese to Africa and helped shape the Portugal of today.
Portugal at Heart programme:
10 June: Opening of the 'Independent Heart' sculpture
For more information about Joana Vasconcelos, visit
www.joanavasconcelos.com.
10 June: Exhibition of Chris Barnard’s Golden Heart.
Elegance Jewellers, Melrose Arch. Till 11 July. For more information, visit
www.elegancejewellers.co.za.
11 June: Portuguese Gastronomy Week (with Chef Vitor Sobral) Pigalle, Melrose Arch. Till 15 June. For more information, visit
www.vitorsobral.com.
12 June: Brenthurst Library Exhibition – 'Portuguese Presence in Africa and the East'
Brenthurst Library. Till 31 August.
Portuguese Food Demo
Woolworths, Melrose Arch. Till 18 June.
13 June: 11:00 – Chef Vitor Sobral Gastronomy Demo
Woolworths’ Tapas Bar, Melrose Arch.
15 June: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Rancho Folclórico Luso Madeirense The piazza, Melrose Arch.
17 June:19:30 - Ana de Sousa Fashion Show
19 June: Vista Alegre/ Atlantis/ Bordallo Pinheiro display (for sale). Stand on upper retail level, the piazza, Melrose Arch. Till 19 July.
21 June: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Grupo Folclórico Terras do Norte The piazza, Melrose Arch.
22 June: 19:00 – Viewing of the documentary 'The Art of Amália', by Bruno de Almeida, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
24 June: 19:00 – Viewing of the BBC documentary,
Mariza and the story of fado, followed by
Mariza - Terra in Concert, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
25 June: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Grupo Folclórico Terras do Norte, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
28, 29 June: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Rancho Folclórico FC. Troyeville/ NAC,The piazza, Melrose Arch.
30 June: 20:00 – Recital. Filipa van Eck (Soprano) and José Dias (Piano). The piazza, Melrose Arch.
2, 3 July: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Rancho da Casa Social da Madeira-Pretoria, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
4 July: 19:00 – Viewing of the documentary,
The Art of Amália, by Bruno de Almeida, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
6, 7 July: 19:00 – Folk Dancing Group Performance – Rancho da Casa dos Poveiros, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
8 July: 19:00 – Viewing of the BBC documentary,
Mariza and the story of fado, followed by
Mariza - Terra in Concert, The piazza, Melrose Arch.
9 July: 20:00 – JSomething Concert
The piazza, Melrose Arch.