Sandra Palhares

Preserving Guimarães Embroidery through Artistic Education

Sandra Palhares (with Célia Ferreira) – Institute of Education, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Abstract:

The study presents a part of the research carried out within the scope of the doctorate in Child Studies, specializing in Artistic Education. The main objective was to analyse the impact of the textile craftsmanship of Guimarães embroidery on the development of technical-artistic skills, communication and expression capabilities, critical and creative thinking, visual and aesthetic sensitivity, problem solving and promotion of culture and intangible heritage of the region and in the design and experimentation of embroidered artifacts. The research also intended to value the region’s heritage, introducing textiles as new pedagogical practices, taking as a reference some works of contemporary art that are part of it, crossing tradition with contemporary times, with the purpose of providing new learning to students, promoting awareness to the importance of preserving heritage, cultural identity and belonging to a community. The qualitative study was implemented for six months, in 2023, with participatory methodology, involving students aged 10 to 15, from two public schools in Guimarães, differentiated by their sociocultural and economic context. Research data was collected through anonymous surveys. Ethical principles and data protection standards were followed to ensure the protection of participants through a consent form signed by their legal guardians. We followed the guideline of Soares, Sarmento and Tomás (2005) in which the indicator “valuing children’s voice and action” is essential. Preliminary results show us that there are no substantial differences in the knowledge and appreciation of local heritage, however it appears that students, in both schools, do not have specific knowledge about the intangible heritage of Guimarães embroidery.