Empreita Braiding Beginner Workshop with Maria in São Brás de Alportel, Portugal

In Maria João Gomes' "Empreita Braiding Beginner Workshop", all the palms were handpicked for you, dried, and prepared just like they used to do it back in the old days, bringing this beautiful form of art back to life.

During the 3 hours workshop you will first learn to prepare the palms and then in a second step, you will braid them and create a small object like a belt or a keychain, depending on your preference and ability.

The highlight of Maria's workshop is that it takes place at the beautiful "Museu to Traje" in São Brás de Alportel, where her atelier is located. The museum is well equipped to receive guests with reduced mobility, has its own bathrooms and even a nice café. During your stay, you can also visit the inside of the museum and its beautiful gardens. When the weather conditions are favorable the workshop can also take place in the gardens outside.

About the artist:
Maria João Gomes was born in Portugal and raised in Paris, France, always vacationing in the Algarve. She has been living all around the world for most of her life. Until one day in 2010, when she decided to finally settle back in Portugal. 

Maria learned how to do "empreita" basketry art with her grandmother when she was a little girl. She fell in love with it a second time after returning to the country she calls home. She has always been an artist soul and started doing "empreita" as a hobby and also as a form of therapy. Though she never thought that she would take it so far as she did until today: Collaborating with international designers and premium hotels, running own art exhibitions and placing her art pieces in popular music videos. 

Maria takes pride in her work as she represents a lifelong Portuguese tradition that got a bit lost with modern technology. Her mission is it to bring it back to life and to give it a brand-new shape and reputation. 

Many years ago in Portugal everyone knew how to make "empreita" basketry art and people used this to make baskets, brooms and other artifacts to fulfill their daily needs.
Over time and with human evolution this beautiful tradition was lost. Nowadays people in Portugal no longer practice this art respecting every step of the process.

All You Need To Know:
Length of workshop: 3 hours
Number of people: 1 - 6 people
Languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish 
Location: At Maria's atelier inside the museum "Museu to Traje" in São Brás de Alportel
Price per person: € 276, includes all materials, water.
Minimum advance booking time: 7 days
Next workshops dates are: On demand