A commitment has been made by the Ministry of Culture to carry out renovation works at the State Public Library of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a facility owned by the state and managed by the autonomous community, as highlighted by Ernest Urtasun’s department.
Last Tuesday, the Minister of Culture met with the Minister of Universities, Science, and Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands, Migdalia Machín, in Santa Cruz to discuss strengthening collaboration between both administrations.
The primary aim of the refurbishment project is to address marine corrosion issues in the concrete structure, as outlined in the master plan presented by the island government in January. The Department of Infrastructure and Cultural Equipment is currently reviewing the plan. The Ministry estimates a budget of approximately 3.4 million Euros for the project, pending the finalisation of the needs programme and project specifications.
Supporting La Palma in Cultural Initiatives
The meeting also addressed the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Culture and the Government of the Canary Islands in response to the volcanic crisis in La Palma. The Ministry of Culture granted a subsidy of 150,000 Euros to the Canary Islands Institute for Cultural Development, SA, to support cultural and artistic activities for those affected by the crisis.
Additionally, work has begun on the development of a Recovery Plan for Cultural Heritage impacted by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja Volcano, under the National Plan for Risk and Emergency Management in Cultural Heritage. This plan will safeguard cultural assets based on the practical guide for emergency protocols. Moreover, preparations for the Safeguarding Plan for the Silk Museum are currently underway.
The Ministry of Culture is also organising the 2nd International Conference on Cultural Landscape in La Palma this October, in partnership with the island’s Council. The conference will focus on landscape emergency and risk management, in line with the Ministry’s commitment to protecting cultural heritage in crisis situations. These themes will also be discussed at COP29 in Azerbaijan in November and Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona next year.
