SPA awarded with the Order of Camões

The Portuguese Society of Authors received, on April 7th, the title of Honorary Member of the Order of Camões, granted by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on the occasion of the centenary of the cooperative of Portuguese authors.

The ceremony took place at the Belém Palace, and SPA’s president, José Jorge Letria, received the insignia from the Portuguese Head of State. This celebratory moment was attended by the Executive Board as well as the members of the cooperative’s Board of Directors.

The President of the Republic took the occasion to highlight the significance of SPA, not only in promoting culture and defending authors, but also in the uncompromising defence of the values of democracy and freedom.

It is worth mentioning that SPA had already been honoured in 2016 with the title of Honorary Member of the Order of Liberty, and also earlier this year was gifted the High Patronage of the Presidency of the Republic in the celebration of its 100th anniversary.

SPA comprises all areas of creation, from music to literature, including visual arts, audiovisual, theatre and dance, having more than 27,000 national members and representing around 5 million international members.

Portuguese authors feel truly honoured by this distinction, which impels and encourages the author’s community to fight the imperative and increasingly urgent battles in defence of culture and the principles of justice, freedom and solidarity, that they will never relinquish.