The Municipal Auditorium of La Victoria de Acentejo It has become an increasingly closer reality on the 900-square-meter plot of land where the old cinema is located, between Calle Pérez Díaz and Valerio Jerez, in the lower part of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The cinema was acquired on July 14, 1984 by the City Council as a cultural space for the enjoyment of the people but it has been closed for 25 years, abandoned in disuse. This space in the center of town that has been used as a warehouse and storage room, although it does not meet the conditions for it and gives a bad image, will be demolished.
This is confirmed by the mayor, Juan Antonio García Abreu, who states that this is the first step of the project that also includes the excavation for the construction of underground parking spaces and the containment of the walls of Pérez Díaz and Valerio Jerez streets that both roads do not collapse and may give way. The works were put out to tender on August 3 at the State Contracting Platform for an amount of 704,000 euros that will be paid for through the municipal coffers.
On the other hand, the Island Government Council has recognized and subsidized with almost 84,000 euros what is missing from the project, which will be complemented with another 9,000 euros that the City Council will contribute to draw up an “ambitious” auditorium project.
It will have about 400 seats, an upper part that houses a space of almost 300 square meters, and an outdoor screen that will be used as a cinema, in addition to about 50 public underground parking spaces.
The municipal councilor emphasizes that the totality of the work is set at 3.8 million euros, therefore, it will be necessary to obtain financing from the rest of the administrations. “But we are taking steps,” he emphasizes. The writing will be entrusted to the public company Gesplan.
At the same time, volumetry is being worked on together with the Government of the Canary Islands “because there are important limitations from the urban point of view in the sense that it was not possible to grow and it was necessary to make some modifications”.
Juan Antonio García Abreu maintains that one of the main problems that the cultural groups and artists of La Victoria de Acentejo have is the lack of covered spaces so that the public can enjoy their shows.
Lack of covered spaces
In the summer months this problem has a solution because the City Council organizes outdoor events, either in the El Pinar park or in the Rodríguez Lara square, but during the fall and winter it is rare that they can be held. . Only the Casa de la Castaña, with dimensions that are very small and a capacity that does not reach 100 people, allows this possibility that is currently insufficient and is reduced by half due to the need to maintain social distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The track of the sports hall has also had to be used on occasions to develop cultural activities, celebrate the closure of municipal schools or sports galas.
