João Abel de Freitas, FN hotelaria’s chairman, was honored at Mesclarte’26 – Cimeira Atlântica das Indústrias Criativas (atlantic summit of the creative industries).
The event, organized by Associação da Cultura e das Indústrias Criativas (the local association for culture and creative industries), took place on October 16 in the grand hall of Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma da Madeira (the legislative assembly of the autonomous region of Madeira).
This initiative, now in its 12th edition, “brings together voices from the creative industries to explore the relationship between heritage, innovation and economy,” and fosters a gathering of key figures for a moment of sharing and reflection.
The theme chosen for 2026, “Madeira – The world meets here to create,” seeks to highlight the role of creativity in the development and international projection of the Region, reinforcing once again that “The Atlantic is a starting point for new connections.”
Gonçalo Abreu, co-founder of the Madeira Criativa movement (creative Madeira), welcomed the participants and discussed the 12-year journey of this project.
Paulo Neves, a member of Assembleia da República (assembly of the Portuguese Republic) and president of IPDAL, opened the series of interventions. He highlighted the role that the Autonomous Region of Madeira, by its Atlantic centrality, can play on the international stage, as well as the need for Portugal to embrace its Euro-Atlantic dimension.
The 150th anniversary of ‘Diário de Notícias’ (regional newspaper) was the “case study of the year.” Ricardo Oliveira, the newspaper’s general manager, highlighted the historical significance of this media outlet and noted how its growth has paralleled the development of the island of Madeira. He also remembered how this newspaper has managed to bridge the gap between local and distant creative expressions, giving a voice to their creators.
Sérgio Nóbrega, founder and president of Associação das Indústrias Criativas (the local association of creative industries), mentioned the various sectors that have creativity at their core. He noted, for instance, the role of chefs in the development of regional gastronomy. He also highlighted how the Portuguese language serves as a crucial, permanent link between distant geographies.
Next came the segment dedicated to tributes. João Abel de Freitas, FN hotelaria’s chairman, was honored with a “Career Recognition” award. In his acceptance speech, he recognized an “out-of-the-box” mindset and a sense of humor, both essential to entrepreneurship, while also highlighting the importance of creativity in driving innovation and uncovering new opportunities.
Architect Paulo David was honored in the "Merit and Excellence" category. His remarks to the participants highlighted his concern regarding the essential need to rethink the urban development of Funchal.
Helena Leal, councilwoman and representing the President of Câmara Municipal do Funchal (city council), praised the role of culture in the economic and social development of the regions.
Eduardo Jesus, Secretário Regional de Turismo, Ambiente e Cultura (regional secretary of tourism, environment and culture), highlighted the importance of island identity as a differentiating factor in all these cultural manifestations. He also offered special thanks to the chefs for placing their creations in the memory of those who live here and those who visit us.
Closing the event, the President of Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma da Madeira (the legislative assembly of the autonomous region of Madeira), Rubina Leal, highlighted the role of this summit in promoting regional talent and the international projection of the Region.
