In 2023, the Government of the Canary Islands allocated a total of 1,242,204 euros to various actions and initiatives aimed at protecting and revaluing the rich cultural heritage of the island of Lanzarote, "thus fulfilling one of the main objectives of the regional Executive to preserve our historical legacy and strengthen the Canarian identity," according to the Minister of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín.
Among the numerous actions carried out by the Cultural Heritage area, the subsidy of 900,000 euros to the Yaiza City Council stands out, destined to the rehabilitation and conditioning of the Benito Pérez Armas House of Culture, as well as the allocation of 150,000 euros for the agreement signed by the Government with the aforementioned southern council and the public universities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and La Laguna (ULL) for the realization of the archaeological research project in the San Marcial de Rubicón site.
In this sense, as will be recalled, the San Marcial de Rubicón site continues to offer surprises after the latest archaeological interventions with the discovery of a dozen burials, which confirms the existence of a new cemetery in this enclave that was the first European settlement in the Canary Islands. The Minister, who has already announced the extension of the aforementioned agreement from two to four years (2024-2027) "to provide stability and continuity to the research of this important site", has pointed out that "the final intention of this project is the creation of an interpretation center".
Likewise, the Government has allocated 44,139 euros to different actions related to the restoration and change of use of the Casa Torres, as well as 15,771 euros for the museographic proposal of the Santa Bárbara castle in Guanapay, both enclaves located in Teguise. Also, the Government has granted a subsidy of 45,000 euros to the Canarian Diocese (Bishopric of the province of Las Palmas) for the restoration of the painting of Santa Margarita that is located in the parish of Guatiza.
The creation of a book of photographs on the indigenous archaeological legacy of Lanzarote, with an allocation of 14,800 euros; the reconstruction of the archaeological and ethnographic values buried by the tourist urbanizations of the island, with 16,039 euros, as well as a subsidy within the framework of the 'Support to the Network of Museums' program, with 6,448 euros, are, among others, some of the actions and initiatives that the Government of the Canary Islands has carried out in the island of Lanzarote in 2023 in terms of cultural heritage.
