Tenerife becomes the backdrop of debate on cultural rights in Spain

Opening attended by the Minister of Culture of the Island Council and the Presidents of ROCE and RESEO

Starting on 23 April, the Auditorio de Tenerife hosted a debate on cultural rights in Spain during three days of conferences, which formed part of the annual meeting of the Network of Organisers of Educational and Social Concerts (ROCE).

The 16^th ROCE Conference was opened by the Minister of Culture of the Island Council of Tenerife, José Carlos Acha, the president of ROCE, Silvia Carretero, the president of the European Network for Opera, Music & Dance Education (RESEO), Vania Cauzillo, and José Luis Rivero, the Artistic Director of the Auditorio de Tenerife.

After a performance of musical artist Lajalada, José Carlos Acha welcomed those attending the meeting held at the Auditorio de Tenerife, describing the event as ‘a receptacle that generates art as well as concept’. Acha said that culture ‘must be interpreted as a means of spiritual enrichment as well as societal transformation’. He congratulated ROCE for collaborating with RESEO and OLA (Latin American Opera Network) ‘in their efforts to broaden the cultural scope and jointly progress with passion for and commitment to culture’. He added, ‘Cultural authorities such as ours are responsible for establishing new frameworks and making art more accessible to all sectors of society’.

Silvia Carretero said, ‘For 15 years, ROCE has been deeply committed to furthering access to culture and has been actively involved in the relationship between music and education. With these initiatives, we seek to form alliances that will take us from the planning stage to action, adding, ‘Attending live music performances is not a privilege but a right’. Regarding the relationship of this meeting with RESEO, she acknowledged that ‘we are open to dialogue at the European level to share experiences and to join forces in the defence of performing arts as a tool to be used in cultural policies’.

Vania Cauzillo commented, ‘ RESEO had been created 29 years earlier in Paris, in a movement that began among Europe’s main theatres, to bring about renewal and reflection on collaborative efforts’. She said, ‘ Europe can still demonstrate that culture is a tool to further democracy because the quality of cultural collaboration is directly proportional to the quality of democracy’. The RESEO Chairwoman concluded by asking those present for input concerning the debate to be held in the next three days regarding financing, audiences, types of productions, the importance of processes and the value of quality.

José Luis Rivero said, ‘It is necessary to identify challenges and opportunities for change at this conference, which would focus on three main issues that he said should be discussed openly and collectively’. The Artistic Director of the Auditorio de Tenerife described these issues as: ‘sustainability, insofar as finances, environmental concerns and governance; training and new competencies for institutions, their employees, artists and citizens; and access to events, as well as all types of obstacles’. Finally, Rivero called for the ‘resolute defence of committed performing arts’.

The General Director of Cultural Rights of the Ministry of Culture of Spain, Jazmín Beirak, gave the opening speech at this 16th annual meeting of ROCE titled Derechos culturales: una política pública para (re)imaginar futuros (Cultural Rights: a Public Policy to (Re)imagine our Future). She gave a detailed description of the origins, implications, and public policies of cultural rights and an account of the progress made in this initiative, the project which ‘would be announced in the coming months’. Beirak also spoke about the position of Spain’s Ministry of Culture regarding this year’s theme of “What now?”, which is the focus of the meeting. Sharing her thoughts on this matter, she said that ‘culture is perceived as a higher ideal to be respected and, at the same time, as a consumer product’. She went on to say that ‘culture is much more than that simple dualism’, defining it as a societal rite, a way of understanding the world that is present in every moment of our lives, as well as creativity, heritage, language, tradition, and much more…’

Beirak’s speech was followed by a round-table analysis of creative ecosystems and sustainability, moderated by the Technical Director of the Sinfónica de Tenerife (Tenerife Symphony Orchestra), Daniel Broncano, with the participation of José Luis Rivero, a professor at the University of Girona; Alfons Martinell, the executive director of Latin American Opera (OLA); Paulina Ricciardi, a member of the RESEO Steering Committee; Tuula Jukoa-Nuorteva, a professor at the University of Basilicata; and Dinko Fabris.

Rosa Dávila, the President of the Island Council, and the Vice President, Lope Afonso, were also present at this first conference. Dávila attended the conference Mujeres en la música (Women in Music), along with Jazmín Beirak, Paulina Ricciardi, Silvia Carretero, Vania Cauzillo and the president of the Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras (AEOS), María Antonia Rodríguez. The conference was followed by a workshop titled ¿Qué poder estás dispuesto a ceder? (What rights are you willing to relinquish?), hosted by RESEO with members of ROCE.

The next day’s conference (24 April) began at 9.15 a.m. with the presentation of several initiatives of the Educational and Social Department of the Auditorio de Tenerife. The day’s activities also included round tables and a workshop hosted by the Sinfónica de Tenerife.