The women of La Graciosa will have a prominent role this year at the Mancha Blanca Craft Fair. The 18th edition of the fair, which will be held between September 14 and 18, will highlight the importance of the handmade work of these women. This was explained by the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, who, accompanied by the Minister of Culture, Óscar Pérez, and the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Energy, Ariagona González, presented this new edition of the event on Tuesday morning.
The eighth island has been the stage chosen to convey the details of the fair to the public, through a press conference. This edition will talk about the sea through the works of the artisans summoned and, as explained by public representatives, will bring together 40 artisan modalities and almost a hundred masters from all over the archipelago, who will gather once again in Mancha Blanca, a town in Tinajo. According to the Cabildo, this is the first time that the fair has highlighted the handmade work of the women of La Graciosa.
In that sense, San Ginés praised the work of "the settlers who have so dignifiedly contributed to the social and economic structure of the eighth island." "In addition to the tribute, the Ministries of Culture and Industry and Commerce have worked in recent months to consolidate the event as an attraction for tourists who visit us. The effort that both areas have made, I am sure, will be reflected in the increase in visitors," he said.
Precisely, Óscar Pérez highlighted the coordination between the departments. "The joint work and the channeling of information have been decisive in the increase of participants and in the projection of the event", highlights the Cabildo, which points out that, again, it will have the institutional representation of the seven municipalities of the island, in addition to the councils of La Gomera and Fuerteventura.
"This year the collaboration between the Culture and Industry and Commerce Area for the planning of the Fair has been the closest and most fruitful to date, something tremendously positive, and that I personally consider a great step forward," said Pérez.
"They are our heritage and we must protect them"
The Minister of Industry, Ariagona González, has also stated that this year's work agenda has marked "a before and after in the organizational process." González focused her speech on the art of the women of Graciosa, naming those who passed on from generation to generation the design of the hats and shirts that are hallmarks of La Graciosa.
"Today I want to remember Inocencia Páez, her sister-in-law Agustina, master artisans whose work has transcended them, Chuchi, Adoración and Carmen Hernández. For all of them is our tribute. They are our heritage and in addition to recognizing their great work we must protect them; because the society that cares for and maintains the root will never lose its essence."
The counselor also thanked Turismo Lanzarote for its collaboration, which this year has scheduled different meetings with representatives of tour operators to incorporate visits to the Craft Fair in their excursions or itineraries for their tourists.
The president and counselors were accompanied by the councilor of Teguise in La Graciosa, Alicia Páez, who thanked the Cabildo for accepting the proposal made by the City Council to honor the artisans of Graciosa.
