The Filigree Competence Center – Cindor (CCF) launched two new training courses this week. On Tuesday, October 6th, an EFA course for Goldsmithing and Jewelry Technicians began, followed on Thursday, the 8th, by the new Filigree Structure Planning Training Course. These initiatives, developed by the Póvoa de Lanhoso Municipality in coordination with CINDOR, aim to enhance professional qualification and the transmission of knowledge in a sector with a strong tradition.
It was also a week of celebration for the CCF, which received recognition at the 7th edition of the Autarquia do Ano – Grupo Mosqueteiros Award. At the 3rd Local Summit ceremony, held at the Belém Cultural Center, the CCF was awarded in the Culture and Heritage – Crafts category, and also received the +Innovation Award.
Fátima Moreira, Vice-President of the Póvoa de Lanhoso Municipal Chamber and Councilor for Culture and Training, attended the opening of both sessions. She was accompanied by Paula Soares, Pedagogical Coordinator of CINDOR, and Carla Carvalho, Coordinator of the Filigree Competence Center. Moreira highlighted the importance of these courses as a response to the demand for qualified labor from local workshops, contributing to the continuity of a know-how deeply linked to Póvoa de Lanhoso's identity. The fact that the Center hosts trainees from different municipalities was seen as a sign of growing interest in the art of filigree.
The EFA Goldsmithing and Jewelry Technician course has 20 trainees, mostly from Póvoa de Lanhoso, but also from neighboring municipalities such as Amares, Vieira do Minho, Braga, Fafe, and Guimarães. Scheduled to conclude on October 13, 2027, this training will enable participants to acquire technical and professional skills, including practical on-the-job training.
The Filigree Structure Planning Training Course, which started yesterday, marks another step in diversifying the training offerings. Participants from Braga, Guimarães, Fafe, and Torres Novas are attending this certified modular course, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon. The training is scheduled to end on December 10, 2026.
