Engendering a creative milieu Arts and local development in Montemor (Alentejo)

Creative milieux promote social innovation and development in the way they are places where significant social changes can emerge - “L’ innovation affronte l’institué, c’est-à dire qu’elle défait la tradition, elle dépasse la routine et elle défie les contraintes » (Yvan Comeau, 2004 ). Creative milieux present three main characteristics. They have diversity in the way they are intercultural. They are tolerant in the way they allow the risk to do something new. And finally they are democratic in the way citizens active participation is encouraged. Montemor is a small town in Alentejo chosen in the last years by a significant number of artists to live in. Relevant cultural activities and events have emerged in this place producing and reproducing the seeds of a creative milieu in a rural area. Cultural diversity, tolerance and civic participation seem to be nowadays quite present in Montemor. Can we perceive Montemor as a truly creative city located in a rural area in one of the poorest regions of the EU? The answer seems to be positive. And the main reasons should point out a strong linkage between personal and/or informal projects (artists) and institutional strategies (municipality). Such pact has allowed a process of local development based on the engendering of a creative milieux where the role of the arts has contributed notably to the cultural empowerment of local community. This happens through the improvement of the place visibility, attracting new residents and visitors and generating employment and new objects of consumption.