Paulo Cunha e Silva will be honoured by the University of Porto throughout 2019

I always say I have the feeling that I have reached 53 (years) and I have never worked in my life. Because I have always done what I love (...)

            (Paulo Cunha e Silva, in Público, "Porto olhos nos olhos", 2015)

Former Councillor for Culture at Porto City Hall, under the Executive of Mayor Rui Moreira, Paulo Cunha e Silva, will be honoured by the University of Porto (U. Porto), throughout 2019. 

 

The legacy and work of the physicist, professor, and cultural programmer will be the focus of a cycle of conferences and the publication of original research papers all through 2019.

This tribute is organised by the University of Porto, and the main aim is to mobilise the academic community and the public at large in the honouring of an outstanding individual that has made a positive difference in the world.

As Councillor for Culture at Porto City Hall, Paulo Cunha e Silva has served for a mere 751 days, time enough, though, to have a long-lasting legacy and to leave an extraordinary impact in Portuguese society, but most especially in the city of Porto, both as Councillor for Culture and as a Professor.

Posthumously, Paulo Cunha e Silva was awarded the Porto Medal of Honour in 2016. Porto City Hall has also paid tribute to Paulo Cunha e Silva with the exhibition, which was later conveyed into a book, "751 Dias - O Tempo não Consome a Eternidade", [751 Days - Time does not Wear Out Eternity - free translation]. The book shares an overview of the several actions the former councillor for culture developed while in office.

The book was released at the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library auditorium, on 9th June 2018. This date is symbolic as Paulo Cunha e Silva would reach 56 years of age that very day. The councillor for culture passed away on November 11th 2015.

Furthermore, Porto City Hall established the Paulo Cunha e Silva Art Prize (PCS Art Prize) to honour his contribute to culture during his entire life.

The University of Porto joins Porto City Hall to honour the inspirational man who has touched everyone's lives, from the Academia to the city.

It was his the idea that "Culture is extended and expanded nature", leading to the creation of the "Cultura em Expansão" project; it was his the idea of creating "a Forum of the Future to debate the state-of-the-art thinking on contemporary society".

Paulo Cunha e Silva has forever changed the way people in Porto feel and think culture.