National Culture Day, October 18, will be marked this year by a week of activities dedicated to the central theme, music. The events begin today, October 12, with visits by Minister of Culture Manuel Veiga to various cultural centers and institutions around the country.

Tomorrow, October 13, Veiga will hold a press conference on National Culture Day, present the Ministry's Web site and preside over the opening of a permanent exhibition at the National Historic Archive.

Also on Monday, a collective painting exhibition will be opened, and a serenade will be held at Praia's Ildo Lobo Palace of Culture.

On October 14, the Association of Cape Verdean Writers will release its magazine, Pré-Textos, and an evening of dance, poetry and theater will be held at the Ildo Lobo Palace of Culture. On the 15th, the book Ano Mágico de 2006: Olhares Retrospectivos sobre a História e a Cultura Cabo-verdiana (The Magic year of 2006: Retrospective Looks at Cape Verdean History and Culture) will be released.

Also a part of the activities are the announcement of the winner of the Cidade Velha award and the awarding of contestants in the Pantera Young Talent Discovery contest.

On October 18, a special gala event, "Último Momento," will be held at the National Auditorium in Praia.