The Mayor of Faro, António Pina, announced during the municipal holiday that he is preparing a proposal to rent a space on Estrada do Passeio Ribeirinho, south of the railway line and near Teatro das Figuras, where Margem – Centro Cultural e Criativo (Margem - Cultural and Creative Center) will operate. The Recreational and Cultural Association of Musicians (ARCM), which has been headquartered for more than a decade at the Beer Factory, considers the announcement good news.
The association's vice-president, Cláudia Sil, stated that the current location "does not have conditions," noting that the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection recommended the closure of the space "due to lack of licensing." The association has been occupying the premises provisionally since 2014 under a loan agreement.
The mayor recalled that the Beer Factory "does not have conditions to host ARCM or any other event safely," but noted that the proposal will still need to be approved by the municipal bodies. The association presented its needs and hopes the solution will meet its expectations.
ARCM intends for the new headquarters to include rehearsal rooms for bands, training rooms for the modern music school with 100 students, a performance area, and related spaces, in order to strengthen musical training and cultural offerings. The goal is also to obtain certification as a training entity in order to apply for support from the Directorate-General for the Arts.
