Werk Room – Culture, support and connections in the heart of Faro

Werk Room provides a welcoming environment for culture, wellbeing and a range of activities supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and the wider public through a volunteer-run programme based on inclusion.

The first thing I noticed on arriving at Werk Room was how bright and airy the rooms were, and how beautifully decorated. However, as Chris Seibold, one of the founders of the collective that created Werk Room, rightly said, “Without people, it’s just a building.” And this is where Werk Room succeeds: by creating a safe, open and welcoming environment for people to connect.

Werk Room is located in the heart of Faro city centre, less than five minutes’ walk from the Love Faro sign and about the same distance from the train station. The centre opened last year to provide an inclusive space that offers culture, wellbeing activities and practical support. It is run entirely by volunteers and without state or private funding. It is the shared commitment of its volunteers that has made the project such a success.

The range of activities on offer are striking. Social dinners, art exhibitions, film screenings, book presentations, poetry readings, yoga sessions, sharing circles, meditation sessions and karaoke evenings are all typical recurring monthly events. There has even been a yoga session involving puppies held in cooperation with Animal Rescue Algarve.

There is a packed programme for June, with more details available on their website and Instagram page. All of these events, and indeed all social events, are free of charge.

It is a flexible environment with a dedicated book exchange library. The impressive gallery area is dedicated to Guilherme Gonçalves, a talented local artist and dear friend of many, who sadly passed away four years ago. There is also a room for private consultations on a range of issues, including counselling and therapy sessions by the PAS Association. Understandably, a contribution, albeit only a nominal one, is required for these consultations.

The day of my visit coincided with the inauguration of a new exhibition, Portais (Portal), by the talented São Brás de Alportel-based artist Susana Branco. Susana’s work needs no labels but, to my eye, is thoughtful, expressive and evocative. Her art is the result of five years of work and, she explained, came from a cathartic process. As a self-taught artist, she believes everyone has the ability to express themselves through art and speaks passionately about the value of doing so. The pieces, which are available to purchase, can be found on her Instagram page.

*Portais Photo © Carlos Filipe Photography*

Exhibitions are curated by Vera Brandão, who is deeply committed to Werk Room and the difference it makes to people’s lives. Any local LGBTQIA+ artists interested in exhibiting are encouraged to contact Vera via the email address below. Another volunteer, Xavier Diaz, was organising and hosting the following day’s CineClub and also works with Rede Ex Aequo, the national organisation which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex young people aged 16 to 30. That link between local activity and wider networks of support says a great deal about the way Werk Room operates.

At the heart of Werk Room’s approach is the belief that support is not limited to moments of crisis. It also means giving people somewhere they feel safe, where they are able to participate and be seen as their true selves. Chris and his colleagues emphasise connection, shared experience and social bonds.

Faro, and the Algarve more widely, has no shortage of cafés, bars and sporting venues, but spaces built around inclusion, affirmation and community care are rarer. Werk Room has particular value in a region where many people, including younger residents, newcomers and those feeling isolated, can struggle to find places that are open and grounded in respect and inclusion. At Werk Room, the volunteers understand this and are passionate about making a difference.

Werk Room is giving Faro and the Algarve something every locality needs: a place where social interaction, dignity and mutual support are inseparable, and where everyone is made welcome.

www.werkroom.pt