The entities that form the Civic Platform for the Improvement of the Artistic and Cultural Sector in Lanzarote and the Sectoral Table of Contemporary Art of the Canary Islands have released this Friday morning an open letter with their assessments of the CACT 2025 Call and the proposals they deem essential to achieve a more "fair and dignified" island culture.
In the Extraordinary Civic Assembly, held recently in Arrecife, they have analyzed the bases of the call and found "various shortcomings that, in our opinion, hinder the creative and cultural development of the island."
This Platform, formed by the groups ArteMisia Mujeres + Arte, MAV (Women in the Visual Arts), AICAV (Canary Islands Association of Visual Artists), Marca Púrpura (Canarian Women Architects) and the IAC (Institute of Contemporary Art for the Canary Islands), has pointed out different points that it considers that the Art Centers should address. Below is the full letter:
"1. 20/80 payment model
The requirement that participants assume the disbursement of 80% of the project expenses until its completion, without mechanisms that guarantee the final collection in a timely manner, is considered excessively burdensome. This compromises the equality of opportunities and may discourage the participation of those who do not have investment capacity. We propose adjusting the proportion of payments to the needs of each discipline (performing arts, concerts, exhibition projects, etc.) and facilitating initial liquidity that ensures the viability of the initiatives.
2. Composition of the evaluation jury
The current configuration, based on the preponderance of profiles linked to the EPEL-CACT and only two external advisors designated in a non-transparent manner, raises legitimate doubts about the independence of the evaluation. We recommend a parity model (50/50), where half of the members belong to the convening entity and the other half is composed of independent professionals (artists, curators, critics, cultural associations, among others). Likewise, we advocate for the creation of a registry of candidates to elect in a regulated and public manner those who will carry out the evaluation work, publishing the minutes and justifications to guarantee maximum transparency.
3. Lack of clear criteria
The absence of selection criteria and precise weightings (quality, innovation, cultural impact, trajectory, viability, etc.) hinders objectivity in the awarding of aid. We request specific criteria, with publication of the scores and qualifications granted to each project, so that a well-founded challenge and external supervision that reinforces justice in the final resolution are possible.
4. Transfer of image rights
We consider the requirement to transfer, without additional remuneration, the image rights of the works presented in the Call to be abusive. The transfer of these rights, which allows the reproduction, dissemination and use of the image of the creations in different media and platforms, should not be confused with the transfer of intellectual property rights, since both generate independent remuneration rights.
Given that each work and each artist have different characteristics and needs, any use beyond the purposes strictly necessary for the Call must be subject to a specific agreement and fair compensation, in addition to the established fees.
Therefore, we demand a model of transfer of rights that:
- Clearly differentiate image rights from intellectual property rights, establishing appropriate conditions and compensation for each.
- Guarantee the corresponding additional remuneration in case the image of the work is used for commercial, promotional or institutional purposes.
- Respect the moral rights of the artist, ensuring the recognition of their authorship in any type of dissemination.
- Allow authors to negotiate the terms of the transfer, avoiding general clauses that impose disproportionate or abusive conditions.
- Budgetary insufficiency and lack of breakdown by discipline. The global amount assigned to the Call (€207,834) is, in our opinion, too small to cover all the manifestations included (theater, visual arts, music, audiovisual, etc.). In addition, the absence of separate items by discipline generates an imprecise competitive environment that may harm sectors with fewer resources or visibility. We propose, therefore, to increase the endowment and break it down in detail to promote transparency and equity among the various cultural areas.
- Guarantees to avoid the precariousness of creators. There are no apparent insurance, contingency funds or technical support to cover force majeure eventualities, something critical in an island territory where cultural self-management requires more solid institutional support. We request the inclusion of concrete measures that protect creative work and avoid the financial uncertainty to which the culture sector of Lanzarote is often forced.
- Good practices and cultural ethics approach. We emphasize the importance of the Call explicitly adopting ethical criteria that promote social co-responsibility, active listening to island cultural agents and co-management of projects. We are concerned that the initiatives do not respond to the needs and realities of the local artistic network. Therefore, we advocate for a permanent and constructive relationship between the CACT and the cultural community of Lanzarote, ensuring that the proposals are conceived with and for the citizens.
Joint action proposals
The entities signing this letter, members of the Civic Platform and the Sectoral Table of Contemporary Art of the Canary Islands, consider that these seven points are essential for the improvement of the CACT 2025 Call and, therefore, for the promotion of a more inclusive, diverse and ethical culture. We invite the CACT to assess and discuss these reform proposals as quickly as possible, in order to establish collaboration bases that reinforce the role of culture as an essential asset on our island.
We reaffirm our willingness for constructive dialogue and our willingness to participate in as many working tables as necessary to find viable solutions. Our goal is to contribute to a cultural model that not only benefits creators, but also returns to the society of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands the wealth generated from its artistic, historical and contemporary heritage.
Without further ado, we request that our considerations be taken into account and the proposed modifications be addressed. We trust that the island public administration can listen to this collective clamor that arises, unanimously, from the artistic and cultural community of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands."