IMPORTA — Portraits of Memory and Territory

Participatory Photography Project

IMPORTA is a project by Associação F/SOS – Photography, Solidarity and Social Works that brings together portraits, memories, and life stories from communities in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha.

Through participatory photography, the project creates a living archive of local identity, valuing people, places, and the memories that shape the territory.

Communities

The project is currently being developed in the parishes of:

Nadadouro
Foz do Arelho
Fanadia

Activities include community gatherings, oral history collection, and portrait sessions carried out in collaboration with local institutions and residents.

What Has Been Done

IMPORTA has already initiated participatory activities with senior residents, collected portraits and personal stories, and begun building a photographic and oral archive connected to local memory.

About the Author

I am João Carlos, photographer and director of the F/262 – International Photography Festival.

Throughout my career I have developed projects that connect photography, identity, and social impact, with a strong focus on people and their stories.

IMPORTA was created from a simple concern: many life stories disappear without ever being recorded. Through portraiture and participatory photography, the project seeks to preserve memory, give visibility to communities, and create meaningful connections between generations.

Together with Associação F/SOS – Photography, Solidarity and Social Works, we develop initiatives that use photography as a tool for memory, inclusion, and cultural heritage.

IMPORTA is more than an artistic project. It is a human project, built with people and for people.

CEF and Casa-Museu Jaime Umbelino

The CEF – Center for Photography Experimentation, in Foz do Arelho, is the project’s main space for development and public presentation.

The results of IMPORTA will be presented at the CEF and at Casa-Museu Jaime Umbelino, strengthening the connection between photography, memory, and cultural heritage.