The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, today presided over the inauguration of the Azorean Autonomy Center of the Carlos Machado Museum, located in the emblematic Conceição Palace in Ponta Delgada.

This moment was of profound historical and symbolic significance, as it took place on the same date that, in 1975, the Azorean Government presented the preliminary draft of the Political-Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The Autonomy Center was created as a museum dedicated to “preserving and enhancing the archipelago’s autonomous history.” It covers the history of the struggles and achievements that marked the political and administrative affirmation of the Azores as an autonomous region. This new space is part of the Carlos Machado Museum network and reinforces its role as guardian of the Azorean cultural memory and identity.

José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the significance of the Azores’ political autonomy, stressing that it should not be interpreted as closure or isolation but rather as a form of active and integrated participation in national and European projects.

“Our political autonomy does not mean closing in on ourselves, quite the opposite, it means understanding the virtue of integration,” he said.

He added: “an isolated region brings no pride to its people”.

The leader of the Azorean executive also praised the importance of this new center, which “perpetuates in the collective memory the challenges and historical achievements of the Azores,” and stressed that the space will be essential for promoting scientific research and public knowledge about the region’s autonomous trajectory.

“Our aim with this museum space is simple. It is that we honor our history and intangible cultural heritage, that we can, with the access we provide here to the documentation, exhibited with good didactics, contribute to the development of scientific studies of the historical processes that made up the construction of the autonomies of the Azores,” he stressed.

The inauguration of the Autonomy Centre is part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the April 1974 Revolution, a decisive moment for the democratization of Portugal and the establishment of regional autonomy.

He recalled that, following these political changes, the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic recognized the political and administrative autonomy of the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira in 1976.

The President of the Government also highlighted the role played by the University of the Azores in historical research and in studying the facts that shaped the autonomous process.

“The University of the Azores has been fundamental in deepening our knowledge of this historical journey, which is fundamental to understanding our identity as an autonomous people,” said José Manuel Bolieiro.

The Conceição Palace, where the Autonomy Center is now located, is a historic building that houses the Council of Government, the services of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, and now this new museum space.

After extensive rehabilitation and functional reconfiguration work, completed under the leadership of the XIII Government of the Azores, led by José Manuel Bolieiro, the palace reaffirms its place as a symbol of governance and regional history.

The Autonomy Center was designed to host documentary and historical exhibitions, presenting educational content that allows the public to understand the evolution of the Azores’ autonomy. It also aims to attract researchers, students, and those interested in the archipelago’s political history, helping to strengthen knowledge about the Azores’ role in the national and international context.

With the inauguration of this space, the Government of the Azores is taking a significant step towards preserving the region’s memory and identity and promoting study and debate on the challenges and achievements of Azorean autonomy. The Autonomy Center will thus be a meeting point between the past and the future, honoring the trajectory of a people who found autonomy the key to its affirmation and development.

From Azorean Gov Press Release

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.