Portuguese community leaders - interviews and February 2024 updates
Richard Lucas
Greetings all
This newsletter has two interviews, with Inês Bravo Figueiredo of Volt and Nuno Marinho CEO Festival Django Portugal . We are glad to put the spotlight on people who are working to make Portugal and Lisbon better places for everyone. Many thanks to Billy Kaiser and
for the introductions.Open Coffee news
Open Coffee Ericeira had great turnout at our last gathering under the leadership of
Open Coffee is coming to Porto with taking on a leadership role. . organised an Open Coffee branding strategy summit, as per here. Startup Lisboa is providing need space and support to Open Coffee Lisbon - and it is going strong, with support from Giselle Cornejo Yuliia Bilyk Anna Novitskaya and . Daniel Lucas has not only established Open Coffee Sydney but achieved a viable functioning event to hand over to Janelle Yeo and Raghav Ravisankar. Daniel Flynn is planning to launch in Porto, Jordan Scott in Tokyo. For those who aren’t able to attend, we use the Meetup event page as a digital notice board, so you can check out some of the announcements there. If you are not sure what Open Coffee gatherings are all about, check out an onboarding video here
Interview with Nuno Marinho CEO Festival Django Portugal
Please introduce yourself
Nuno Marinho: I’m Nuno Marinho, musician, guitarist, composer, pedagogue, promotor, and creator of Festival Django Portugal.
Richard: What is the history and vision for Festival Django Portugal?
Nuno Marinho: The project Festival Django Portugal started in 2015 when I organized and promoted the 1st ever Gypsy Jazz concert in Portugal, the Paulus Schafer Trio at Festival Internacional Seixal Jazz. Since then, I’ve been hosting multiple musicians to perform in Portugal, as well as traveling around the world to play with them.
With the growth of the community and local bands throughout the country, Gypsy Jazz is becoming more and more acknowledged and cherished by a large number of people. Hence, the need to build and strengthen a Festival specifically dedicated to the music of Django Reinhardt in our country.
Richard: Please tell us what attracts you to this type of big scale project ?
Nuno Marinho: The music always comes first. Gypsy Jazz is a happy and energetic art form, which represents the only time when Jazz became popular music. The sense of community is very strong, as well as the inclusive spirit of all genres, ethnicities, backgrounds, and artistic influences.
Richard: There are many festivals and cultural events in Portugal. What makes this one special/different/better ?
Nuno Marinho: Festival Django Portugal is the 1st and only main event in our country that gathers national and international Gypsy Jazz, Manouche, Sinti, and Rom bands and musicians. And we do it all year long, with many concerts, workshops, and jam sessions.
It is also the place where we connect Django Reinhardt’s music with other artists and art forms, such as dancers, painters, photographers, videographers, and more.
Richard: What are the main challenges?
Nuno Marinho: As an independent (and yet small) Festival, Django Portugal’s main challenge is to settle with some sponsors that we can rely on in the long run. The process of looking for funding year after year is very demanding. We want to get to a point where we know what we can count on for some years ahead.
Another challenge is to spread the word. The vast majority of people have a strong understanding of what Gypsy Jazz sounds like… but they don’t know what to call it. You’ve probably heard this music in a Woody Allen movie, or on a BBC sitcom. Once you hear it and put a tag on it, you’re hooked! You’ll want to hear it again and invite all your friends to come along.
Richard: When we met at Open Coffee Lisbon you said you wanted to work with different types of people and vendors. Please list your needs, and how they should get in touch.
Nuno Marinho: Django Portugal is looking for people who identify with this exciting and uplifting music and art form. People who are willing to grow the community and spread the love.
Sponsors, influencers, lindy hop burlesque or tap dancers, photographers, videographers, writers, reporters, a local vintage clothing store, a barber shop for the exquisite moustaches from that Era, a shiny shoe shop, food trucks to serve customers at the auditorium, or even artists willing to do expositions of their work.
Everybody is welcome to this community. Even if you think you don't fit the profile, you can always come and enjoy great music. Give it a try, maybe you'll be amazed by the happy vibes!
Richard: Can you share a bit about the finances? Does Festival Django expect to make money or cover costs? What are your main revenue sources? Are there any prominent sponsors or public funds that you want to thank?
Nuno Marinho: Django Portugal relies on ticket sales. That’s the revenue we know we can count on every time because it depends solely on what we can do to motivate people to attend the shows.
Over the years we’ve been creating bridges with many promoters and venues that invite us to showcase our events. This is why Django Portugal has already landed concerts in Lisbon, Coimbra, Évora, Alverca, Cascais, Elvas, Olhão, Bragança, Viseu, and many other cities.
Regarding funding, Django Portugal has been able to get some help from local and national institutions, such as JF-Lumiar and DG Artes. This helps us invest back in advertisements and radios, and also to cover work-related expenses such as web development, design, post-production videography, creating and managing content, and so on.
Richard: Moving onto marketing, how do you get the word out about Festival Django so that people who might be interested get to hear about it.?
Nuno Marinho: Django Portugal is very active on social media. Regularly we disclose future events and share photos and videos of past events, on IG, FB, and YT.
We also run a yearly crowdfunding campaign that offers 2 APC Manouche Guitars to our 2 biggest fans: https://www.gofundme.com/f/festival-django-portugal-2024
The newsletter is also of great importance, as it is our local approach to music schools and musical instrument stores.
But the most effective way to spread the word is through our music. People absolutely LOVE the music we play live. After shows, we always get the most heart-warming praise, compliments, and testimonials.
Richard: What are your quality control standards over performers who want to take part?
Nuno Marinho: As a professional Gypsy Jazz musician myself who travels around the world and meets hundreds of different artists, I am very aware of all the great talented bands and musicians of our time. Django Portugal only books high-on-demand musicians in the world.
We also take pride in setting up a balanced agenda that can focus on more traditional or more contemporary Gypsy Jazz. Django Portugal books singers, guitarists, and violinists to set up an equilibrium of timbres and bandleaders. Finally, we set up collaborations between national and international artists, also as a way to develop our musicians and raise the bar for future local events.
Richard: Where can people follow what is planned for the festival if they want to keep up to date about the programme.
Nuno Marinho: All info is on the official site: www.FestivalDjangoPortugal.pt . Our social networks are updated on a daily/weekly basis with the announcement of the latest concerts, workshops, and jam sessions, as well as promos for what’s coming, and recaps of past events.
www.Instagram.com/FestivalDjangoPortugal
www.Facebook.com/FestivalDjangoPortugal
www.YouTube.com/@FestivalDjangoPortugal
Richard: How can people get in touch with you if they want to ask more questions?
Nuno Marinho: The best way is to send a message on any of our social networks, an email, or subscribe to our newsletter. And, of course, talk to us personally at any concert or event where we are performing or hosting!
Richard: Anything else I didn’t ask that you want to share?
Nuno Marinho: Django Reinhardt is the first European Jazz musician, the one guitarist every other guitar player, from any genre, worships and reveres.
Gypsy Jazz is a vibrant, energetic, and happy kind of music, one that will definitely get you going!
Festival Django Portugal is THE place for you to be if you want to spend a great time with family and friends. A time where you go from a deep sentimental state to a dazzling dexterity and virtuosity. Join us, spread the love, and feel the amazing experience of being part of the Django Portugal community in the world.
Many thanks
Interview with Inês Bravo Figueiredo
Please introduce yourself
Inês Bravo Figueiredo: I’m Inês and I am the Lead candidate for Volt Portugal for the National Elections. I am an entrepreneur, my company is called Zarnie Analytics. I worked in Data Analytics and Strategic consultant with a focus on data driven decision making. I studied Physics Engineering and Management.
Richard: Why are you getting involved in politics. What is the vision for your contribution. What can you do differently/better?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
I am drawn to politics by a genuine desire to contribute to the creation of a better society. I always pursued knowledge and understanding of how decisions shape our community. I want to ensure that our government is competent and that the decisions taken lead to better outcomes.
Bringing my expertise in strategic decision-making and data analysis, I want to elevate the quality of our decision-making processes. What sets me apart is my dedication to innovation, intending to infuse modern technologies and data-driven insights into politics. By fostering transparency, efficiency, and accountability, I believe my approach can bridge the gap between vision and action, ultimately leading to a more responsive and effective governance for the benefit of all citizens.
Richard: You’ve been involved in big name consulting, startups and other projects. Please tell us more about what career goals you had and have now? What motivates you to do the things you do.
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
My initial career goals were centered around honing my skills and understanding different facets of the business world. However, what has consistently motivated me is a deep-seated desire to contribute to a better society. This commitment led me to transition from consulting to startups, seeking the freedom to initiate projects with a broader impact in mind. I wanted to create solutions that went beyond the confines of corporate corners and resonated with a wider audience. This has ultimately led me to the realm of politics. Here, I believe I can make a tangible difference in the world, addressing societal issues on a larger scale and working towards creating a positive impact that extends far beyond the boundaries of any company.
Richard: There are many political groups in Portugal. What makes your party/group different/better ?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
What sets our party, Volt, apart in Portuguese politics is our commitment to injecting fresh energy into a system that has, at times, felt stagnant. We aspire to chart a new course without succumbing to extremisms, embodying a balanced approach rooted in social liberalism. Our vision is to emulate successful models, such as Denmark, where pragmatic policies have fostered societal progress. We believe in steering Portugal towards a future that embraces innovation and inclusivity. Furthermore, Volt is a pan-european party, we are present in more than 30 countries, and we definitely bring a European perspective into portuguese politics.
Richard: What are the main challenges?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
New political parties often face several formidable challenges as they strive to establish themselves in the political landscape. Building name recognition and gaining visibility pose significant hurdles, especially when competing against established parties with longstanding histories. The lack of financial resources and limited access to media coverage further compounds these challenges, making it difficult for new parties to effectively communicate their message to the broader public.
Richard: How do you view the impact of startups and nomads, and retirees foreigners in Portugal. How can the impact on the housing market be addressed?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
The influx of startups, nomads, and retirees from abroad has significantly benefited Portugal. Startups contribute to economic growth and innovation, nomads bring diversity and creativity, and retirees contribute to the cultural tapestry while sustaining local sectors. Together, they enhance Portugal's global appeal and contribute to a dynamic, cosmopolitan society.
Having said this, the impact on Portugal's housing market is undeniably significant. To address this, we need to expand the housing supply with a particular emphasis on public and cooperative housing. This includes crucial reforms in bureaucracy and legislation to streamline administrative processes and licensing, expediting the construction of much-needed housing units. Setting a minimum goal of 10% public and cooperative housing in areas facing housing pressure is essential, fostering partnerships to boost construction efforts.
The promotion of Housing Cooperatives for Affordable Renting, inspired by successful models like Vienna, offers an effective strategy to address housing needs. Utilizing vacant state-owned real estate for public further maximizes available resources.
Richard: Can you share a bit about the financing of politics here? Do politicians need sponsors or backers? Are foreign state actors, or wealthy corporate interests and foundations an issue in Portugal?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
In Portugal, the financing of politics is regulated to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence. Political parties can only receive funding from individuals, with strict caps on contributions per person. This regulatory framework aims to curb the influence of foreign state actors, wealthy corporate interests, and foundations, as no financial support is permitted from corporations or non-profits. This approach fosters a system where politicians are not beholden to specific sponsors or backers, promoting independence and accountability within the political landscape.
Notably, established political parties with parliamentary representation receive financial support from the state, based on the amount of votes they previously received. However, parties without such representation are excluded from state funding.
Richard: Moving onto marketing, how do you make sure that people know about your ideas and candidacy, and get the word out so that people who might be interested get to know you exist.?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
Ensuring that people are aware of our ideas and candidacy is particularly difficult due to legal constraints on purchasing advertisements. To overcome this challenge, we rely on creative strategies such as outdoors and posters to catch the public eye, utilizing strategic locations for maximum visibility. Social media plays a very important role, providing a platform to connect directly with voters, share our message, and engage in meaningful conversations. Participating in podcasts allows for in-depth discussions, reaching niche audiences interested in policy details. Traditional media poses difficulties, it's hard to be featured there, so we need to take unconventional avenues with out of the box events to try and catch their attention.
Richard: How can people get in touch with you if they want to ask more questions or help you?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
If you have more questions or would like to offer support, getting in touch with me is easy. You can reach out through our social media channels, where we regularly share updates. Additionally, feel free to connect with me directly on my personal social media accounts.
Richard: Anything I didn’t ask that you want to share?
Inês Bravo Figueiredo:
Volt has a robust strategy to reshape Portugal's economy by concentrating on industries of the future that not only add significant value but also possess the potential for global market penetration. A key element of this strategy involves the creation of industry clusters, fostering collaboration and synergy among businesses to maximize efficiency and innovation. Leveraging EU funds, particularly from the recovery and cohesion funds, is integral to developing a value-added and export-centric economy. Simultaneously, our approach includes a commitment to reducing bureaucratic hurdles, streamlining administrative processes, and creating a more business-friendly environment. This concerted effort is designed to facilitate economic growth, attract investments, and position Portugal as a competitive player in the industries that will shape the future.
Our next events are on 27th February
Open Coffee Lisbon #24 @ Startup Lisboa at 09:30 in the morning at per here
Lisbon Newcomers Welcome Club -Meetup #26 @ Titanic at 18:00 in the evening as per here
Finally
Our subscriber numbers are steadily growing, if you want to reach this audience and have an interesting community project send me details.
got an upcoming event for the Libson community in the next 2 weeks. Would love to share it!