"Everyone has the right to culture". The dynamic cultural city of Santarém (1930-1959).

The associative leader Manuel Ginestal Machado defended in an interview published in the newspaper of Santarém, the March 20, 1958, that "everyone has the right to culture". This statement was a wider project, pivoted between the decades of 30and 50, in the city of Santarém, by members of a privileged social group who have worked on cultural diffusion among the most disadvantaged of the town, at the same time that wished to contribute to the construction of the identity of the Ribatejo region. Mostly linked to associations, these men have defined a broad cultural coordination project which is the subject of this case study thesis performs and in which also dealt with the story of the importance of cultural and recreational associations in the dynamics of the city. As units of observation significant cases were studied, such as the Organization of Cultural coordination group in the post World War II, the Foundation of the Cultural Circle Scalabitano and attempting to build the "Palau de la Música". Also studied the role developed by women, especially in the communities, in a controlled and controlling society. The interests of the vast and heterogeneous working class of the city also deserved a specific study from the analysis of the work done by the Sociedade Recreativa Operária. Cultural relationship established chains around town with the Ribatejo region, Lisbon and beyond borders through the schedule established with the delegation of Santarém from the Alliance Française, also were the subject of study. This thesis is intended as a contribution to broadening the knowledge of the history of culture in a country town, during the decades of 30 to 50 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]