At the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre in Funchal, the signing ceremony established 46 agreements within the framework of support for associations in the cultural sector, totalling €260,000, the municipality informed.

"Together with the Multi-Year Cultural Agreements, which cover 17 cultural entities with regular and continuous activity, the municipal investment in culture will exceed €540,000 by 2026, including amounts allocated this year and those planned for future years," the municipality added in the released statement.

Describing this as the largest support ever granted to cultural associations, the Funchal municipality highlighted that a total of 63 associations and cultural entities are covered, including six benefiting for the first time.

Mayor Jorge Carvalho (PSD/CDS-PP) praised the associations' work, stating that the municipality aims to provide them with the means to develop and present projects to the public.

A new paradigm of multi-year contracts for municipal financial support, implemented in this term and emphasising 'stability and predictability,' was also highlighted. This approach seeks to help associations make 'more consistent planning' for their projects.

Jorge Carvalho added that next year, the goal is to allow more associations to benefit from multi-year contracts.