All the cultural spaces on the island, theaters, museums, exhibition halls, cinemas and other stages, have lowered the curtain and behind the scenes we have all stayed, all the people who work in the sector.
After more than forty days of confinement, without certainty of when the cultural activity will return to work at full capacity, in the Cabildo we are taking steps, without losing sight of the difficulties that lie ahead.
We are aware that the priority at this time is to save lives and leave home with the clear tranquility of being and feeling safe.
The moment we leave our homes and meet again, we will begin to hear dramatic, close cases, from our neighborhood, work colleagues, friends, cases for which the Cabildo of Lanzarote is preparing to attend, to provide them with all their support, resources and means that contribute to minimizing the damage.
Then we will come, cultural managers, theater companies, dance companies, music companies, experts in photography or design, cultural promoters, entrepreneurs and self-employed workers in the sector, artists and the public, in short, all of us who make up the cultural fabric, eagerly awaiting our stage exit.
As Councilor of Culture of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, since the first week of confinement I have met every Monday with all the councilors of Culture of the Cabildos, with the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, as well as with the councilors of the island; daily with the technicians; with cultural associations; with companies in the sector, both at island and regional level; with professionals who from the first moment have positioned themselves on the side of solutions and have taken a step forward with serious, innovative and committed proposals, which helps us to become aware of the moment in which we find ourselves.
From these meetings of enthusiastic possibilists, four proposals have emerged:
In the first place, the Vice-Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with all the Cabildos, has convened several lines of support to the sector, some of them already open, through which they have put 2.6 million euros on the market. Of course we would like the amount to be higher, we would also like the reality to be different, but it does contribute to cushion the hard impact that the cancellations of activities are having.
Grants for research and artistic creation projects; and support for companies, entities and individuals, make up the first package of measures for Canarian culture.
As a second measure, we have the need to consume what we have called Cultural Kilometer Zero, that is, the culture close to us, the one that is produced on the island. Let's consume our creators. Contemporary or traditional; innovative or classic; new or veteran. Let's consume them. In this sense, on the website culturalanzarote.com, which we are promoting, we wanted to give space to our most outstanding artists to tell us about their creative process, and help us understand, the first step to love, local creation.
As a third initiative, we have valued more than ever the need to be united, together, to support all of us who make up the cultural fabric. And here nobody is left over. I have already mentioned the meetings we have had with different groups, with whom we work in the cultural field and I can only thank the step forward that everyone has taken, leaving aside their differences to put their energy into their strengths. In the coming weeks, we will continue to meet with different cultural agents, professional entities and local artists to continue obtaining impressions and considerations on what is happening and how we should act in this new scenario.
And finally, there is you, whether we know each other or not, spectator who has ever been to one of our theaters; or consumer of our concerts; or visitor of our museums; we need you to contribute your ideas, your wisdom, your experiences as a consumer of culture before and after the crisis. To do this, we will improve and enable a space on the website culturalanzarote.com where we want to receive your proposals.
Together, we will raise the curtain again.
Alberto Aguiar / Councilor of Culture of the Cabildo of Lanzarote
