The Secretariado Nacional de Informação, Cultura Popular e Turismo (National Information, Popular Culture and Tourism Secretariat), usually known as the Secretariado Nacional de Informação or SNI, was the public organization responsible for political propaganda, public information, communications, tourism and cultural activity during the Estado Novo regime in Portugal. It was based out of the , on

Restauradores Square Restorers Square () is a public square in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is located at the southeast end of Avenida da Liberdade, near Rossio square. Details The square is dedicated to the restoration of the independence of Portugal in ...

, in

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

. The SNI developed an important role in the area of fine arts, film, theater, dance, literature (including the introduction of literary prizes), folklore, publishing, etc. The organization was created in 1933, as the Secretariado de Propaganda Nacional (SPN; Secretariat of National Propaganda), adopting the SNI designation in 1945. In 1968, it became the Secretaria de Estado da Informação e Turismo (SEIT; State Secretariat of Information and Tourism). After April 25, 1974, with the

Carnation Revolution The Carnation Revolution (), code-named Operation Historic Turn (), also known as the 25 April (), was a military coup by military officers that overthrew the Estado Novo government on 25 April 1974 in Portugal. The coup produced major socia ...

, the SNI/SEIT's information and communications operations formed the basis for the new Secretaria de Estado da Comunicação Social (State Secretariat of Social Communication), sometimes elevated as the .

Directors

Directors of the SPN

* António Joaquim Tavares Ferro – 1933 to 1945

National Secretaries of the SNI

* António Joaquim Tavares Ferro – 1945 to 1950 * António de Eça de Queirós – 1950 (interim) * José Manuel da Costa – 1950 to 1955 * – 1955 to 1958 * – 1958 to 1968

Secretaries of State for Information and Tourism

* César Henrique Moreira Baptista – 1968 to 1973 * Pedro Mourão de Mendonça Corte-Real da Silva Pinto – 1973 to April 25, 1974

Prizes

The secretariat issued various prizes in the theater world, some symbolic and some monetary. The SPN (and, after a hiatus, the SNI) gave out the Prémio

Gil Vicente Gil Vicente (; c. 1465c. 1536), called the Trobadour, was a Portuguese playwright and poet who acted in and directed his own plays. Considered the chief dramatist of Portugal he is sometimes called the "Portuguese Plautus," often refe ...

between 1935 and 1962, with the exception of the years 1943, 1946–1953, 1957, 1959, and 1960. The SNI also awarded prized for

musical theater Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, moveme ...

(from 1945 to 1948), followed by the Artistic Awards (1959–1973), as well as other prizes for literary efforts.

Prémio Gil Vicente (1935–1962)

Prémio Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho (for children's literature; 1937–1961)

Prémio Antero Quental (poetry; 1934–1961)

Prémio Ocidente (prose/poetry; 1962–1964)

Prémio Fialho de Almeida (short story or novella; 1936–1954)

Prémio Eça de Queirós (novel; 1935–1960)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretariado Nacional de Informação Estado Novo (Portugal) Propaganda in Portugal 1933 establishments in Portugal 1974 disestablishments in Portugal