Castro Marim Sound Archive

The Castro Marim Sound Archive is the result of a collaborative, year-long effort between the Particular Universal project, the local municipality and several institutions and citizens. This collection of “sound portraits” was assembled by artist Carlos Norton, between January 2022 and March 2023, and also includes contributions from Portuguese and international artists who developed artistic residencies in Castro Marim.

The Castro Marim Sound Archive lives on as tangible legacy from the Particular Universal project (which, between 2021 and 2023, produced around twenty artistic residencies in the region), but it’s more than a collection or a catalog of sounds – it’s also, and foremost, an immersive tool into the historical, social, environmental and cultural dimensions of Castro Marim. With more than 1500 minutes of sound recordings, encompassing a wide range of activities such as salt extraction, fish-farming, basketry or the rich birdlife in the nature reserve, this sound archive reflects the living and diverse life of Castro Marim.