The Municipality of Loulé, through the “Loulé Criativo” initiative, launches an artisanal boilermaker course – the art of working copper and brass, with a view to trying to recover an activity that is no longer practiced.
Just a decade ago, the last boilermaker in the city was heard with the characteristic sounds of hammering copper and brass, in the manual production of pots, chocolatiers and cauldrons.
Nowadays, the old boilermakers’ workshops are all closed and only the memory of a few who learned the trade more than fifty years ago remains of this activity.
The course emerges as a solution to act quickly in order to transmit this knowledge and promote conditions for the installation of new boilermakers with more current approaches in the practice of this traditional art.
In the 150 hours that the intensive course lasts, the “apprentices” will work with two masters, learning to know and apply elementary techniques of boilermaker work. They will also have a design module to explore creative possibilities for designing contemporary products using the art of the boilermaker.
The course takes place from October 3rd to November 3rd, in Loulé, and is aimed at adults of working age, with experience or interest in artisanal work, willing to carry out professional activity in the metal arts.
It is a non-certified training that is a strategy to support the transmission of knowledge, the activity of artisans and stimulate the incorporation of innovation factors in production. To this end, post-training support will be given to the installation and creation of the economic activity of the new boilermakers committed to giving a new life to a craft that is part of the Loulé soul.
Participation in the course is free and registration is open until July 15th. Registration and clarifications: loulecriativo@cm-loule.pt or call 289 400894.
Link for online registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xs3jhqzQHpW6y5iVeBkiNqOJ44CFVB5iiBTrMpZuPgQ/edit
It should be noted that this initiative is part of the “Loulé Criativo” project, which focuses on valuing the identity of this territory with creativity and innovation as a driving force. To this end, it promotes a creative tourism program, creative residencies and cultural events, supports the installation and activity of artisans and professionals in the creative sector and stimulates research and experimentation in these themes.