140 Years Since the Birth of Joaquim Moreira da Silva, the “Poet Carpenter” (15/03/1886 – 12/12/1960)

Born in Vilar, Joaquim Moreira da Silva, known as the Poet Carpenter, created a vast body of work that remains relevant today, continuing to captivate, move, and inspire readers to dream and reflect.

He worked in the fields from a young age and was only able to learn to read and write at a night school in Porto, when at 18 he went there as a carpentry apprentice. He became an anarchist and a courageous, principled fighter for justice, notably leading the fight against hunger in Vilar at the end of World War II.

His poems denounce injustices and tyrants and dream of fair worlds that popular struggle will make real. They speak of happy or thwarted love, tell legends, celebrate traditional songs and serenades. Much of his work is compiled in the anthologies A Lira Dileta and A Lira da Rebeldia (Opera Omnia, 2024).

The 140th anniversary of Joaquim Moreira da Silva’s birth will be celebrated throughout 2026, organized by the Municipality of Vila do Conde and the Union of the Parishes of Vilar and Mosteiró, with a broad, diverse, and high-quality program that will honor his life and work and introduce it to new audiences.

Explore the program and join the celebrations!

PROGRAM

13 MAR

• Activities in the Union of the Parishes of Vilar and Mosteiró

• Meetings at the Schools of Vilar and Mosteiró

• Puppet show “The Man Who Cultivates Words” by the Mandrágora Theatre and Puppet Company, aimed at the users of the Centro de Convívio da Associação de Solidariedade Social de Mosteiró

14 MAR

3:00 PM – Opening of the exhibition

Joaquim Moreira da Silva: Biobibliographical Exhibition
On display until April 21

José Régio Municipal Library
Free Admission

3:30 PM – History Colloquium

Joaquim Moreira da Silva and His Time

José Régio Municipal Library
Free admission with prior registration: biblioteca@cm-viladoconde.pt

Speakers

Raquel Varela
“Portugal at the End of the 19th Century and the Beginning of the 20th Century”

Maciel Santos
“The Workers’ Counterculture in Portugal (1879–1934): The Context of Joaquim Moreira da Silva’s Work”

Moderator: Marta Miranda

15 MAR

3:00 PM – Puppet Show

“The Man Who Cultivates Words” by the Mandrágora Theatre and Puppet Company

Headquarters of the Associação Honra e Dever
Free Admission

16 MAR

4:00 PM – Poetic Walk

Readings by Sandra Salomé and Isaque Ferreira
With the participation of the Honra e Dever Choir

Location: In front of the Churchyard of Vilar Parish | Rua do Passal | Rua Joaquim Moreira da Silva
Free Admission

March

Performance/Class “Contra-Mestre”

Associação Cultural – Tertúlia Equivalente
With Alexandre Sá

Target Audience: Students of José Régio and D. Afonso Sanches Secondary Schools

17 APR

Tribute to Joaquim Moreira da Silva
As part of the Congress on Marginal and Marginalized Literatures

Faculty of Arts, University of Porto

21 APR

Poetic Display

“Revisited Works of the Poet Carpenter”

José Régio Municipal Library Garden

23 APR

10:30 AM – Puppet Show

“The Man Who Cultivates Words” by the Mandrágora Theatre and Puppet Company

José Régio Municipal Library
Free Admission

27 JUN

4:00 PM – Exhibition Opening

“140 Years of Joaquim Moreira da Silva: An Expanded Poetic Reflection”

Escola Superior de Media, Arts and Design
On display until 24 OCT

Casa Antero de Quental
Free Admission

25 JUL

9:45 PM – Performance on Joaquim Moreira da Silva

24th Edition of the Youth United Theatre Fair of Mosteiró

Espaço Social e Cultural de Mosteiró

OCT/NOV

Performance “Joaquim Moreira da Silva, the Poet Carpenter!”

By the Coração nas Mãos Company

Target Audience: Students of the 1st Cycle Primary Schools of Vila do Conde

31 OCT

9:30 PM – Audiovisual Performance “Inferno”

By the Nuvem Voadora Company

Municipal Auditorium of Vila do Conde
Free Admission

12 NOV

7:00 PM – Tribute Gathering to the Poet Carpenter
Conservatory of Music, Theatre, and Dance of Vila do Conde

7:30 PM – Performance “The Carpenter of Words”
Escola Profissional de Vila do Conde

Municipal Youth Centre – Ballroom
Free Admission

NOV (Date to be announced)

Joaquim Moreira da Silva Poetry Slam

Municipal Youth Centre

12 DEC

3:30 PM – Film Screening “The Carpenter of Words” by Jaime Neves – Premiere

Headquarters of the Associação Honra e Dever
Free Admission