Santa Cruz of Tenerife stands as one of the rare locations worldwide blessed with an extraordinary open-air sculpture museum. These pieces were bestowed upon the city following the two editions of the International Street Sculpture Exhibition held in 1973 and 1994, introducing splendid works by renowned artists that transformed public spaces in the municipality.
The visual impact of these sculptural pieces adorning parks, squares, and streets has fostered citizens’ engagement with artistic experiences and positioned Santa Cruz at the forefront of contemporary sculpture. Presently, 38 of the 40 works showcased in both exhibitions remain embedded in the city’s streets, enriching its cultural legacy. Among these, 36 are under the auspices of the Autonomous Organization of Culture (OAC), while the remaining two belong to the College of Architects of Tenerife.
However, this cultural heritage has been subjected to numerous acts of vandalism over the years by uncivil individuals, leading to the damage and defacement of these pieces with graffiti, tags, and posters. Subsequently, efforts are undertaken to clean, restore, or repair them upon detection of such defacement.
In addressing these acts of vandalism against cultural heritage, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council’s Cultural Affairs Councilor, Santiago Díaz, specified that the OAC dedicates over 150,000 euros from its annual budget to combat these actions, regularly undertaking initiatives to rectify damages on sculptures in locations such as Parque Cuchillotos de Tristán, Plaza Francisco Hernández Barroso, Plaza Weyler, Puente Galcerán, Playa de Las Teresitas, on the Barranco de Santos road, on Avenida San Sebastián, at the Nuestra Señora de África Market and on Méndez Núñez Street, La Recova Art Center, and Guimerá Theater.
Díaz emphasized that “even though the frequency of vandalism against street art is diminishing, with the last incident recorded being in August against the Mobile sculpture by Francisco Sobrino at Plaza de la República Dominicana in the capital, the acts of vandalism against sculptural heritage between 2015 and 2023 incurred a cost of over 300,000 euros for cleaning, alterations, and theft of elements.”
The mayor underscored that “the cultural heritage of the capital is not only significant but also invaluable, as we stand amongst the select few capitals with a tremendous museum accessible to all citizens. Therefore, it requires care and respect, as we should cherish these works as we do the furnishings in our homes.”
In this regard, Díaz asserted, “Although the capital’s sculptures have been recurrent targets of vandalism, I have observed a decline in such acts in recent months, with fewer complaints being received in this regard. I believe citizens are increasingly recognizing the importance of these artworks in their lives and are better at preserving them.”
Regarding reinforcing surveillance of the city’s extensive sculptural heritage, the councilor commented, “This would be an expensive endeavor considering the high number of works and their distribution throughout the city.” He further pointed out that “if any attack on the sculptures is detected, the Local Police or citizens typically report, enabling us to promptly initiate repairs.”
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council collaborates with the Street Sculpture Commission of the College of Architects of Tenerife, the promoter and organizer of the International Sculpture Exhibition during its first and second edition, to assess damages and allocate repair projects for vandalized works.
Emphasizing the legacy left in the city by the aforementioned exhibitions, Díaz highlighted that Santa Cruz has since harbored an exceptionally valuable artistic heritage rivaled by few cities globally. “It is a heritage owned by all citizens, which the City Council endeavors to safeguard. Nonetheless, it is our collective responsibility to preserve and maintain it in optimal conditions,” noted Díaz.
The mayor also announced that the 2024 municipal budget will earmark a specific allocation to promote initiatives fostering awareness among citizens and visitors regarding the significance of safeguarding and cherishing our Historical Heritage, particularly the street sculptures. To this end, planned actions aim to enhance the visibility of this unique museum in the heart of the city.
In November, the inaugural step was taken with an initiative on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the First International Exhibition of Street Sculptures, wherein the City Council affixed an identification plaque bearing a QR code on each municipal sculpture in the city for scanning with mobile devices, extending pertinent information about the works.
Regarding this initiative, Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez expressed that “the objective is to bring culture closer to both the local and visiting public, enabling us to offer relevant information about the capital, particularly about the 35 sculptures from the first exhibition, a privilege for the city to possess.”
