The interested confusion created by the Arrecife City Council with the proposal to declare three new Cultural Interest Assets (BIC) in the city, has caused it to go quite unnoticed that the Cabildo proposes several BIC in other municipalities. Among them are several works of public art by César Manrique and the Church of Femés and its surroundings (Yaiza).
Among the artist's works there are three spaces that are part of our network of Art, Culture and Tourism Centers. These are the El Diablo restaurant in the Montañas del Fuego (Tinajo), the Jameos del Agua and its Auditorium (Haría) and the International Museum of Contemporary Art of the Castillo de San José (Arrecife). In addition, his two former residences converted into museums and managed by the César Manrique Foundation are included: Taro de Tahíche (Teguise) and Casa-Museo (Haría).
“The Cabildo has proposed to guarantee the protection of these assets”
In exercise of the powers conferred on us by the Canary Islands Cultural Heritage Law, which was approved unanimously by the autonomous Parliament, the Cabildo de Lanzarote has proposed to guarantee the protection of these real estate assets, as well as their transmission to future generations in the best possible state of conservation.
Said Law establishes that BIC will be declared those movable, immovable and intangible assets that are most outstanding, as well as those that constitute unique testimonies of Canarian culture. In that sense, it is beyond discussion that the aforementioned assets are an important part of Lanzarote's cultural heritage, and, in fact, years ago there was an attempt to declare them BIC, although, unfortunately, the files did not complete their processing and expired.
“Manrique should be declared an Asset of Cultural Interest”
The BIC declaration is the maximum heritage protection granted by the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. All have external protection environments that provide environmental support to the asset, regardless of the heritage values it contains. This delimitation is carried out to prevent, avoid or reduce the impact of works, activities or uses that affect the asset to be protected. An environment that, on the other hand, must be sufficiently broad to enable the understanding and comprehension of the asset and allow its spatial continuity.
The Government Group of the Cabildo de Lanzarote is particularly satisfied with the treatment we have given to the Jameos del Agua. The artistic conception begins long before reaching the center, since the artist wanted to place on the LZ-1 road, less than a kilometer before the entrance to the site, a second copy of the same sculptural model that welcomes the Jameos. As the file includes, this crab sculpture is an element that is part of the BIC, which guarantees its protection.
But, above all, surrounding César Manrique's public art work with the Cultural Heritage Law is doing justice to his creative genius and his valuable legacy, because, if possible, he should also be declared BIC, that is, common heritage of all the citizens of Lanzarote.
Ariagona González, National Deputy and Councilor for the Environment, Heritage, Industry and Energy of the Cabildo de Lanzarote
