The island of Lanzarote is appreciated in the collective imagination not only as a volcanic landscape of singular beauty, but also as an amalgam of artistic expression that navigates between the heritage of local tradition and contemporaries such as Pancho Lasso, César Manrique, Ángel Guerra and the current voices that seek to define one of the possible cultural futures of the island, understanding tomorrow as a multifaceted and organic vision. This unique island space faces a duality that dictates artistic creation in two ways: on the one hand, the outdated vision that sees art as synonymous with sacrifice and hardship; on the other, the falsely heroic expectation that demands each artist be an agent of change at the level of when in the 20th century art was fanned by the political favor of its time. This duality excessively simplifies the organic and connected nature of the creativity that characterizes the island, overlooking the vital contribution of art and culture, which represent more than 3% of Spain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In a world in crisis, Lanzarote faces universal challenges that put our development model at risk: overpopulation, environmental imbalance, intergenerational selfishness, and social tensions, challenges that also offer a unique perspective to speak with our own voice about this time and place. This local context serves as a link to the struggle for Lanzarote to be a creative space that is both sustainable and innovative, where art not only reflects social or personal reality but also proposes paths towards the future, because it is in the multiple individual visions, realized from personal freedom, where we will perhaps find those common channels that lead us to reflect on who we are and where we are going together.
The history of Lanzarote is intrinsically linked to the union of political, social, and business objectives with artistic visions, whose legacy has woven sustainability into the cultural DNA of the island. Today, the artists of Lanzarote find themselves at a crossroads towards two paths, between honoring that heritage and creating a new path that responds to contemporary realities. The need to dialogue with the world and face current challenges has led to a redefinition of the role of the artist in Lanzarote society. It is at this inflection point where the artistic community can lead the way towards a cultural innovation that looks at where we come from but proposes new approaches.
No one can doubt that public cultural management on the island has improved greatly in the last decade, thanks to a professional and technical team that, although reduced and decimated, does what is in its power to compose the best possible programming on the island. But Lanzarote's cultural infrastructure, from museums, performance spaces, to exhibition spaces, faces incredible challenges: extremely limited resources, inadequate and outdated infrastructures, and a high barrier to entry for new artists who live permanently on the island. The answer to these challenges lies above all in: economic investment, political will, and the creation of a cultural ecosystem that fosters collaboration, innovation, and open dialogue with the community.
I believe that we should not go down two different paths, but rather seek the channels so that the paths converge and we can create together the Lanzarote that speaks of today.
This article marks my return to the cultural dialogue of Lanzarote, with the hope of offering a perspective that embraces both tradition and innovation, I seek to bring the reader closer to the multifaceted reality of art in Lanzarote always seen from my personal perspective, underlining the importance of an infrastructure that supports the creative vision and sustainability. It is time to look beyond and recognize art as a fundamental pillar for the future of Lanzarote.
David Machado. Expert in Contemporary Culture
