The Museum of Aveiro was the setting on 16th May for an event to promote the Portucel Soporcel group’s support for the restoration of one of the museum’s exhibits, the “Tomb of Bishop João de Albuquerque and his wife Helena Pereira” .

The aim of the event, attended by the Civil Governor of Aveiro, the Aveiro City Council councillor in charge of culture, the Director of the Museums Institute, representatives of the media and a number of local organisations, was to draw attention to this social responsibility initiative and to help raise awareness of further sponsorship initiatives aimed at supporting restoration of the museum’s historical heritage.

A Patronage Agreement was also drawn up at the event between the Group and the Museum of Aveiro, represented respectively by Mr. José Nordeste, director of the Cacia plant, and Ms. Ana Margarida Ferreira, the museum’s director, who thanked the group for sponsoring the project and being the first to undertake such a commitment, which it is hoped will serve as an example to other firms in the region. Mr. José Nordeste added that “the support of the Portucel Soporcel Group in restoring the “Tomb of Bishop João de Albuquerque and his wife Helena Pereira”, a sculpture of considerable artistic value, is particularly significant for the Company; the tomb, erected to honour a historic figure with close ties to the Angeja and Cacia regions, is part of a corporate responsibility policy aimed at consolidating the group’s ties with the local community and at defending collective heritage”.

Mr. Filipe Neto Brandão, Civil Governor of Aveiro, described the support as “an example that will bring culture and the business community closer and serve as an incentive for future initiatives”.

The event culminated with a brief visit to the “Tomb of Bishop João de Albuquerque and his wife Helena Pereira” and an account of its historical background, followed by a celebratory glass of port for everyone present.