SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 13th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts is set to showcase a remarkable canvas by Velázquez, on loan from the renowned Prado Museum collection, for a duration of one month. This exhibition is part of the initiative ‘The art that connects’, a collaboration between the Prado Museum and Telefónica, aiming to bring masterpieces by artists like Rubens, El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Murillo, and Goya to various regions and cities across Spain.
Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, expressed his pride in welcoming and exhibiting a Velázquez masterpiece, describing it as a significant part of Spain’s cultural heritage. He stated, “It’s a privilege for Santa Cruz to host and appreciate this Velázquez piece, offering the locals a chance to admire this artwork on their own soil at the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, bringing about a surge in cultural activities.”
Santiago Díaz Mejías, the Councilor for Culture, emphasised the importance of the project in fostering a strong cultural connection within the community, allowing everyone to explore Velázquez’s work. He highlighted Velázquez’s influence in the realm of Spanish art and universal painting, urging people to mark this event in their calendars to visit the Museum of Fine Arts and further enrich themselves culturally, as such opportunities are rare.
‘The art that connects’ is a collaborative effort between the National Prado Museum and Telefónica, marking the company’s centenary by encouraging cultural interaction among people. This project will enable various museums across Spain to exhibit select masterpieces of Spanish art temporarily. Works by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, Murillo, and other eminent artists from the Prado will tour 18 locations in Spain.
This initiative extends the legacy of the Prado Museum’s Bicentennial celebrations, like “On Tour through Spain” in 2019, demonstrating the institution’s presence in nearly forty cities across the country with the combination of both projects. Additionally, there are loans, temporary exhibitions, and the “El Prado in the streets” project featuring photographic replicas of the Museum’s collections on display in public spaces, currently touring Andalusia and previously visiting Castilla y León, Castilla la Mancha, and Extremadura.
Miguel Falomir, the director of the National Prado Museum, stated, “This initiative, supported by Telefónica, embodies our commitment to national culture, extending an invitation to all Spaniards to come to Madrid while also reaching out to them in their local communities.”
Emilio Gayo, the President of Telefónica Spain, expressed delight in sharing the centenary celebrations with the Prado Museum. He highlighted the collaboration in the museum’s digital transformation and in promoting this cultural project. Gayo stressed Telefónica’s dedication to fostering connections among people across Spain through their shared artistic heritage, which plays a significant role globally.
