On Sunday morning, the news surpassed our worst nightmare.
The great fire in the area of Pedrógão Grande (central Portugal) had taken
the lives of 19 people. Throughout the day, this number kept rising. The
country was in shock.
The Maria Matos Municipal Theater in Lisbon was the first
to react. Not only did it announce the cancellation of that day’s performance, as
a result of the declaration of national mourning, but it also informed its
followers on Facebook about possible ways to help and kept updating this
information. It remained solidarious and involved.
There were also heartfelt posts from the National Ballet
Company, the National Theatre D. Maria II and the National Theatre São João.
They all spoke about the tragedy, referred to the victims and suspended their
programming or announced a minute of silence. Yesterday, the National Theatre
D. Maria II announced that the ticket revenue from two performances next
Saturday will revert in favour of the Association of Volunteer Firemen of
Pedrógão Grande.
EGEAC, the municipal company for culture in Lisbon, deeply
regretted the loss of dozens of lives and suspended the Festas de Lisboa. Two
of the cultural venues managed by the company shared this post without further comments (two museums). Lisbon’s
Municipal Libraries shared the municipality’s post reminding that it was
important to help. The Museum of Leiria (together with the Municipality of
Leiria and Leirena Theatre), being much closer to the afflicted area, also made
reference to the "desolating and deeply sad news" and informed of
the cancellation of the programming.
There were also those who announced the suspension of their
programming as a result of the declaration of national mourning, without any
reference to the tragedy, and, moreover, continued to publish news regarding
their programming.
But, above all, there was silence. Great silence. I checked
the Facebook pages of our national museums on the 18th June, and
again today, and found no reference - that is, no reaction, no involvement, not
a word. What is happening around them, the fact that the country is in a state
of shock, as so many lives were violently lost, does not deserve a word? It has
nothing to do with the these museums’ mission? The reason why they exist? Some
colleagues, including museum directors, posted on their personal pages, shared
their feelings and humanity. Why do they consider, though, that the
institutions in which they work or direct, have nothing to transmit to the Portuguese
society regarding what happened? Aren’t cultural organisations humane, aren’t
they integrated in our society, don't they feel its pain? How painful this silence is...
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