Nuno Piteira Lopes

It is with a high sense of responsibility, deep pride, and institutional and personal satisfaction that we host the first edition of the Bienal Del Agua – The Traces of Water in Cascais, an event that confirms our territory as a meeting point between culture, science, and environmental awareness.

The Mayor of Cascais
Portugal

At a time marked by global challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and the urgent need for more sustainable development models, this Biennial is, after all, an invitation to reflection and action. Water, an essential element for life and the identity of territories, is considered here not only as a resource, but also as common heritage, collective memory, and a catalyst for artistic creation as well.

By bringing together artists, researchers, institutions, and citizens, this initiative reinforces the role of culture in a broad sense as an engine of political and social transformation, promoting interdisciplinary dialogue and the construction of innovative solutions for a more balanced future. As highlighted throughout this project, artistic and cultural expressions have the unique ability to sensitize us, question, and mobilize us around the main issues of our time.

This first edition also consolidates our municipality’s position as an open and creative territory, committed to sustainability, projecting itself onto the national and international panorama as a center of critical thinking, experimentation, and cooperation.

We believe that each initiative, each project, and each encounter leave a mark—just as water shapes the landscape—contributing to greater collective awareness and appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage.

For all the reasons mentioned above, we invite all residents of Cascais and visitors to participate in this unique experience, where art, knowledge, and citizenship interweave, together leaving new traces for future generations.

Nuno Piteira Lopes
The Mayor of Cascais