A few weeks ago, the writer Alberto Omar Walls gave me an original poster of the inauguration of the Teatro-Laboratorio “El Almacén” in Arrecife. The inauguration took place with a play entitled La estatua y el perro that he directed and that was performed by the theater group of deaf-mutes “Los Ambulantes” between March 16 and 19, 1974.
In 1974, at the end of the long Franco dictatorship, the country was in an effervescent stage, where there were desires for change, for modernization, and on the islands the influence of tourism had brought new social and cultural references. Now we see it as a happy time, which, without a doubt, we have also idealized, where César Manrique and other artists and intellectuals turned Lanzarote into the vanguard of art and culture within our country.
It is curious that past times may seem more modern than the present. Today we have the legacy of that era, but that bohemian and interesting atmosphere, I would even allow myself to define it as “exciting”, exists only in memory. And it is not that there are no very interesting painters, writers, oral storytellers, artists and creators in Lanzarote. Of course there are. What is missing (or was missing) in the cultural sphere is Community and a more effective, friendly, even festive articulation or intervention, which would generate more repercussion in society in general and which would have the determined support of public administrations, especially the Cabildo and City Councils, which should consider Culture as a fundamental resource for development.
Unfortunately this has not always been the case and we have seen how lately the situation of pandemic and economic crisis has been used to justify the closure of the exhibition hall known as “Archaeological Museum of Lanzarote” by the Cabildo, instead of betting decisively on the creation of an authentic museum so necessary, among other political mistakes.
In addition, the people who live around the cultural sphere in Lanzarote are currently in a complicated, very difficult situation, as in most economic sectors. But the health measures have been especially restrictive for the organization of cultural events and projects and it is urgent to review these regulations.
In spite of everything, during the last days I have seen a ray of hope in the press, we have been able to read in the media how a platform has been created, a working group in which associations, events and companies from the cultural sector are part to face the difficult health situation and to be able to continue offering safe and quality cultural proposals in Lanzarote. Also with ideas as generous as allocating part of the proceeds from some of their activities to social issues, something that seems an excellent idea. I think this union is good news and I hope it lasts over time, because it could create synergies and a new stage of splendor in the island's cultural sphere.
During the confinement we have witnessed the debate on whether culture is a basic necessity or not. It is absurd to deny that without reading, without music, without cinema, without series... a long-term stay at home would have been absolutely insane and unbearable. Obviously it is not more important than eating, but culture also feeds in a fundamental sense. I refuse to settle for mediocrity and the inevitable, I am sure that the best times are always to come and I think it is necessary to support and applaud, to the extent of everyone's possibilities, the union of the cultural sector of the island because it will contribute to improving society.
