Today The Book Market returns to the centre of Famalicão this ThursdayCity Council Famalicão marks the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation RevolutionCulture and Tourism Casa das Artes in MayToday Famalicão pays tribute to the Famalicão Volunteer Fire Brigade at one of the town’s main entrancesEconomy Famalicão exports high-value precision: Ysium establishes itself in the most demanding global supply chainsEducation São Miguel de Seide Primary School is already undergoing refurbishmentSocial Work Children in Famalicão dress up as police officers to raise awareness of child abuseParishes Mário Passos in Joane to monitor infrastructure investments for the village’s futureEnvironment Collection of bio-waste in the villages of Joane, Ribeirão and Riba de Ave begins this weekSafety and Civil Protection Council open to a permanent solution for new GNR stations in FamalicãoSport The Famalicão Municipal Championships are a driving force for sporting cohesion in the municipalitySocial Work Famalicão marks “Child Abuse Prevention Month”City Council The council’s healthy financial position allows for a reduction in property tax and the progress of infrastructure projectsToday Literature and well-being take over the centre of Famalicão with the return of the “Vai à Vila” marketsHealth Famalicão Hospital to receive new infrastructure investmentsCulture and Tourism Famalicão celebrates Holy Week with a varied programmeSport 10th Famalicão Sports Gala takes place on 9th of November

Agenda Municipal / Exhibitions From Famalicão to the World: 50 Years of Leica in Portugal

From Famalicão to the World: 50 Years of Leica in Portugal
Until 12 Nov
Casa das Artes | 09h00

Opening hours: From Monday till Friday from 9h00 to 18h00.

Many customers are surprised to learn that parts of their Leica camera are manufactured in Portugal. Leica is "Made in Germany", yet for five decades a part of the production has been realised in the north of Portugal. In the 1970s, rising costs in Germany drove the company to Vila Nova de Famalicão, a town with a long manufacturing history, where employees had already specialized in precision mechanics. 

Both locations, Wetzlar and Famalicão share with the world a passion for expertise, precision, and craftsmanship. The factory in Portugal now has more than 800 employees. In addition to the employees, the Portuguese community also has a large number of photographers who use a Leica. 

The exhibition "FROM FAMALICÃO TO THE WORLD: 50 YEARS OF LEICA IN PORTUGAL", curated by Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, the international director of the 26 Leica Galleries, celebrates the success, diversity, and community that has linked Wetzlar and Famalicão since 1973.

Using archival photographs, the series "Five Decades" demonstrates the commitment and dedication, as well as the evolution of this factory that began in 1973 with just over 10 employees. Gonçalo Fonseca, the winner of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award Newcomer 2020, shows the series "One Day" that documents the factory's routines, 50 years after its beginning. For the first time in Portugal, a set of 12 iconic photographs by names such as Ralph Gibson, Steve McCurry, Joel Meyerowitz, Thomas Hoepker, or Barbara Klemm, winners of the Leica Hall of Fame award, an award that celebrates the career of photographers who contributed to the development of the brand and photographic art, will be on display. On the first floor, we find "The Faces of Today" where we can see the portraits of each of the current Leica employees in Portugal, authored by renowned photographer Michael Agel.

As we look back on the years of history and tradition of the Portuguese/German company, we continue to look to the future. Innovation continues to stand at the centre of activities, both in Famalicão and in Wetzlar.

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