Oeiras: towards a creative city of Literature

The Municipality of Oeiras is preparing to submit its application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Literature. This global programme, launched in 2004, currently brings together 350 cities from over 100 countries, covering seven creative fields, including Literature, and promoting cultural diversity as well as social, economic, and cultural development.

Oeiras’ application reaffirms the municipality’s commitment to valuing literary heritage, fostering a dynamic contemporary literary scene, and encouraging creativity and cultural inclusion.

This initiative positions Oeiras as a hub of cultural innovation, both nationally and internationally, and as a territory that celebrates and promotes literature as a central element of its identity and sustainable development.

Full text of the application

Slide 1

Oeiras,
a Literary Beacon

With a passion for the written and spoken word, Oeiras is an example of how literature can transform communities and build a sustainable future. This application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network highlights the municipality's ongoing commitment to reading, culture, and social cohesion.

Slide 1

A village that inspires

Oeiras is much more than a town. It is a unique geography where innovation and tradition coexist harmoniously. With 170,000 inhabitants from 118 nationalities, Oeiras combines a privileged location between Lisbon and the Atlantic, featuring stunning green areas and a vibrant coastline. Its diverse cultural infrastructure and visionary public policies promote the well-being of its residents and highlight Oeiras as an example of integration and social development.

Slide 2

A park dedicated
to Literature

The Poets' Park is a unique tribute to Lusophone literature. It is an appeal to the arts—an open invitation to all. Conceived by the poet and writer David Mourão-Ferreira and the sculptor Francisco Simões, joined by landscape architect Francisco Caldeira Cabral and architect Elsa Severino, the park features sculptures, inscriptions, and gardens inspired by poets of the Portuguese language. As a place of contemplation and celebration of the word, the Poets' Park invites everyone to explore the richness of our literary culture.

Slide 3

A temple
for creativity

The Temple of Poetry, located in the heart of the emblematic Poets' Park, is a multifunctional space dedicated to the celebration of literature and cultural expression. With contemporary architecture that invites inspiration, it is a venue that hosts literary events, conferences, workshops, and exhibitions, promoting creative dialogue and the diversity of the Portuguese language. Beyond its physical structure, the Temple reflects Oeiras' vision of using literature as a powerful means to foster inclusion, learning, and social transformation.

Slide 3

Knowledge
Portals

Equipped with a robust network of libraries, Oeiras provides democratic access to knowledge. These cultural facilities welcome readers of all ages and promote a variety of activities such as book clubs, storytelling sessions and evenings, and creative workshops. Libraries are much more than repositories of books—they are community gathering points where literature unites people and builds intergenerational and intercultural bridges.

Slide 3

Meeting
the Community

Libraries do not confine themselves to buildings. They open up to societal changes, to the needs of their communities, and actively seek out people. That is why they multiply into beach libraries, various reading spots, appear at street events, and mark their presence in municipal institutions. Libraries continually work to promote knowledge, literature, and the Portuguese language—expanding far beyond their walls and bookshelves.

Slide 3

From the pages of the
past to the future

Oeiras is a land of inspiration for great literary figures like Cesário Verde, and it continues to nurture new talents through projects such as the Poetry Prize. This deep connection with literature is reflected in events and initiatives that celebrate its literary legacy and promote contemporary creation.

Slide 3

Celebrating Words

Festivals such as "Passa a Palavra" and "Mostra de Artes da Palavra" transform Oeiras into a meeting point for writers, readers, and artists. These events promote cultural diversity and strengthen community bonds.

Slide 3

From Oeiras
to the World

Oeiras's literature already has a global impact through international partnerships and translations. With a potential audience of 260 million Portuguese speakers, Oeiras promotes its literary and cultural heritage, strengthening the bonds between Lusophone communities.

Slide 3

On the path to a
literary tomorrow.

Oeiras’ bid to become a UNESCO Creative City is more than a goal; it is a commitment to the continuity of its cultural and literary initiatives. New projects, such as the Book Festival and the Historical Novel Festival, promise to further expand the cultural impact of this literary hub on the global stage.

Highlighted Initiatives

Oeiras Poetry Prize

Oeiras stands out as a promoter of poetry in the Portuguese language, with infrastructures such as the Parque dos Poetas, a significant cultural and landscape space. This year, it is hosting the third edition of the Poetry Prize, awarding the largest national prize in this genre in the categories of recognition and emerging talent. It receives submissions from four continents.

Website

One book, one community

An event designed to celebrate the life and work of a Portuguese author, who is selected annually to create a municipal reading community. More than a thousand copies are distributed to residents, who are invited to participate in a week-long programme of activities and initiatives promoting reading around the chosen author.

More information

Poesia.fm

A digital radio dedicated to amplifying poetry in the Portuguese language and connecting it with poetic voices from around the world, serving as a space for creation, listening, and sound experimentation. Featuring podcasts of readings, conversations, performances, and “radiobooks,” it offers listeners a close and intimate literary experience.

Website

Spread the Word
Festival

An annual event celebrating oral tradition literature, featuring workshops, performances, debates, book presentations, and storytelling sessions. It fosters intergenerational and multicultural exchange through spoken and written words.

Website

MAP – the Spoken Word Exhibition

A multidisciplinary festival that explores the word in all its forms, focusing on poetry, literature, and music. It features conferences, workshops, and debates, highlighting the diversity of the Portuguese language and promoting community inclusion.

Website

Meetings with Writers

One of the longest-running projects promoted by the Oeiras Municipal Library Network, hosting meetings with renowned writers for discussions on literature, reading, and the creative process. It has already welcomed over a hundred authors.

Videos

We, the Readers

Prominent Portuguese figures, including musicians, architects, politicians, actors, and athletes, reflect on their reading experiences, favorite books, and how literature has influenced the shaping of their personal and professional identities.

Videos

All the books

Designed for the general public that appreciates bestsellers, this project features successful authors who have captivated Portuguese readers, promoting inspiring encounters and celebrating the most striking works in today’s literary universe.

Summer School and Winter and Summer Courses

Livraria Verney promotes courses and thematic events on literature, philosophy, women’s rights, and religions, in partnership with universities, encouraging critical thinking and cultural appreciation.

More information

Oral Narration

Regular training aimed at equipping storytellers, promoting oral narration and transmission literature as tools for social inclusion and cultural preservation.

Story Factory

An initiative in collaboration with Livraria Cabeçudos and the National Reading Plan, involving hundreds of local children in the collaborative creation of books.

Website

‘Livros de Oeiras’ editions

Municipal publishing imprint that promotes the literary creations of Portuguese and international authors. The series includes short stories, poetry, and historical novels, with plans for translation and global distribution.

Memories of Oeiras

A repository that provides access to digital content and resources from libraries, archives, documentation centers, galleries, museums, and monuments related to the municipality of Oeiras and its tangible and intangible historical heritage.

Website

Life Stories

A project aimed at the municipality’s senior citizens, encouraging active participation in collecting life testimonies that, through their stories, add a new dimension to the community, preserving local histories and promoting the cultural memory of Oeiras.

Website

Mural – Political Prisoners of Caxias

A collection of testimonies from political prisoners at Caxias prison during the dictatorship period. The aim is to create a memorial of homage, preserving the memory of antifascist resistance, and a graphic novel, intended for a young audience so that intangible heritage is not forgotten.

More information

Future Projects

Livraria – Oeiras Book Festival

Organization of a Book Fair that aims to celebrate small publishers and independent bookstores from across the country, promoting their significant work in publicizing authors who are lesser-known to the general public.

With Open Arms – A Reading Neighbourhood

A community intervention project that aims to promote reading practices in less privileged communities. The goal is to create bonds between children, youth, and their families, strengthening community ties and social inclusion.

Historical Novel Festival

Exploring both national and international historical novels as a starting point for intersecting with other cultural experiences such as Operafest and Há Prova, linking history and heritage with reading and creative writing.