THE The Arquivo.pt 2025 Prize establishes, for the first time, a partnership with the 50th Anniversary of April 25th Commemorative Commission, which aims to award €5,000 to a work whose theme is the 1974 Revolution. Maria Inácia Rezola, Executive Commissioner of the 50th Anniversary of April 25th Commemorative Commission, shared what it means to assign a Honorable Mention dedicated to this milestone in national history.
The 50th Anniversary of April 25th Commemorative Committee is, for the first time, a partner of the Arquivo.pt Award. What is the purpose of this partnership, and how does it fit into your mission?
This is an initiative that fully fits into the mission and objectives of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Commission of April 25th. The Celebrations (2022-2026) aim to to mark half a century of freedom and democracy in Portugal, evoking defining moments of resistance against dictatorship and colonialism, as well as events that were crucial to the construction of democracy. We work with a strong focus on promoting knowledge of the country's recent history, in order to mobilize Portuguese society for a debate on the future of democracy. We believe that knowledge of the past forms the foundations of a more participatory, plural and democratic society..
THE Arquivo.pt Award promotes research and the development of this knowledge. Due to its scope, it will impact different generations and will help more people—especially those born after the 25th of April— understand that freedom was won and how democracy was built.
Why do you consider it important to distinguish innovative works based on information preserved on Arquivo.pt about April 25th?
April 25, 1974, was a decisive moment in Portuguese history, first and foremost because it ended a dictatorship lasting nearly half a century. During that period, there was not a single day when the Portuguese could speak and act freely. With April 25, freedom was achieved and the doors to the establishment of a democratic order were opened. And, despite the time lapse, its relevance remains relevant today. We all benefit daily from the legacies of April 25th, and it is everyone's duty to preserve them.It's worth repeating that we can't take democracy for granted, and democracy requires enlightened, empowered, and participatory citizens. Everyone is essential to the debate and building on the future.
THE Arquivo.pt give a fundamental contribution to the preservation of this history and memoryAs we know, the “lifespan” of many websites is very short. By allowing you to recover pages web that are no longer available, the Arquivo.pt constitutes itself as one of the most important repositories of digital sources for contemporary Portuguese history. The works submitted to the competition will certainly demonstrate the wide-ranging possibilities opened by Arquivo.pt, highlighting its importance.
What will you value most in the projects nominated for your honorable mention?
The best candidates for this honorable mention will be projects that contribute to preserving the memory and history of April 25th and the birth of Portuguese democracyThe originality and characteristics of this process will certainly allow for the presentation of particularly interesting projects. Fortunately, we have a vast wealth of information on the subject at our disposal. we will also value the originality and creativity of the submitted works. Finally, we will have to take into account your scientific rigor.
