IMPORTA
Portraits of Territory and MemoryPart of the F/262 – International Photography Festival, IMPORTA is a participatory photography framework created by João Carlos that brings together interconnected projects exploring how memory, territory, age, and difference shape local identity.
Through portraiture, archival research, and community engagement, IMPORTA builds a living archive of the territory, connecting past and present while amplifying the voices and stories of its people.
The project expands the festival’s curatorial theme Moldar as Margens / Shaping Shores, reflecting on how communities and identities are formed through time, presence, and lived experience.
Projects within
IMPORTA
Age Matters / A Idade Importa
Portraits of Territory and Memory
A participatory photography project focused on older generations as carriers of memory and lived experience.
Through portraiture and dialogue, the project creates a space for recognition and visibility, highlighting the connection between people, place, and history. Each participant becomes part of a growing visual archive that reflects the identity of the territory.
Difference Matters / A Diferença Importa
A complementary project focused on difference, vulnerability, and representation.
Through portraiture, it expands cultural visibility and challenges dominant narratives, ensuring that diverse identities are present within the collective memory being constructed.
The Project
Originally developed as a portrait series, the work has evolved into a long-term, community-based project with tangible cultural and social impact.
The project has:
- Been exhibited in public and cultural spaces
Been broadcast on national television and featured in multiple media outlets
Been published as a book by the Lisbon City Council and the Municipal Library Network
Engaged hundreds of participants and wide audiences
Within F/262, IMPORTA enters a new phase, expanding its reach across the Oeste region and deepening its connection to local communities.
Micro Museum
Gallery in Motion, Studio in the Territory
At the heart of this new phase is the Micro Museum, a mobile gallery and photographic studio designed to function simultaneously as:
a working photographic studio
a small-scale exhibition space
a platform for community engagement
Housed in a refitted vehicle, the Micro Museum allows the project to operate directly within each territory.
This mobile format makes it possible to:
photograph people in their own communities
create local exhibitions where the portraits are made
bring cultural experiences to audiences with limited access to cultural infrastructure
The Micro Museum visits:
residential homes and nursing homes
day centers and Casas do Povo
public spaces, community centers, and local institutions
Rather than waiting for audiences to come to cultural spaces, the project brings art, memory, and participation directly to the community.
Territory and Community
The project develops across the municipalities of Caldas da Rainha, working in close collaboration with parish councils, local institutions, and community organizations.
Caldas da Rainha
12 parishes:
A-dos-Francos, Alvorninha, Carvalhal Benfeito, Foz do Arelho, Landal, Nadadouro, Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, Coto e São Gregório, Salir de Matos, Salir de Porto, Tornada, Vidais
Each parish becomes the focus of a dedicated body of work, contributing to a broader understanding of the region.
Expected Outcomes
- Creation of a large-scale photographic archive of the territory
- Production of 12 books, one per parish
- Active involvement of local communities, especially senior populations
- Circulation of the Micro Museum across territories
- Collection and preservation of family photographic archives
- Local presentations and exhibitions in each parish
- A final exhibition integrated into F/262
Micro Museum + HEDGE
Immersive Experiences and New Forms of Access
Developed in partnership with Hedge, the Micro Museum also integrates virtual reality (VR) experiences and immersive content.
This collaboration introduces a technological layer to the project, allowing visitors to engage with photography and memory through new forms of perception and interaction.
These immersive experiences:
expand access to culture through digital tools
create new ways of experiencing memory and territory
connect generations through shared visual and sensory experiences
By combining portraiture, archives, and immersive media, IMPORTA positions itself at the intersection of photography, community practice, and digital innovation.
Memory and Archive A Book for Each Parish
A central component of this phase is the creation of 12 publications, one for each parish.
Each book combines:
contemporary portraits of residents
archival photographs from personal and family collections
This process creates a layered narrative where past and present coexist, forming a collective visual memory of each community.
Produced by F/262 & Associação F/SOS
With the support of:
May 15 – September 25, 2026 Caldas da Rainha & Óbidos, Portugal · View map
About F/262
F/262 is an international photography festival rooted in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Through exhibitions, talks, education, and public installations, the festival engages contemporary photography with place, community, and the world we share.
©2026 F/262 – Festival Internacional de Fotografia
Produced by Associação F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais
English (UK)