Santa Cruz de Tenerife 17 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife, via the Museum of History and Anthropology (MHA), located at the Carta and Casa Lercaro sites, the Archaeological Museum within the Nature and Archeology Museum (MUNA), and the Insular Centre for Information, Advice and Documentation for gender equality (CIADGE), are coming together to present the “Memory Weaving” initiative.
Under this title, various activities will be organised for a group of senior women from different municipalities across the island of Tenerife, weaving memory as a thread through photography, textiles, and archaeological heritage. This serves as a catalyst for sewing, compensation, and the role of women within that heritage framework.
The Minister of Culture and Museums of Tenerife, José Carlos Acha, stated in a note that “the women engaged in this project will have the opportunity to explore the museums’ collections from a fresh perspective, as well as uncover hidden areas of the various museums that are typically not open to the public.”
Patricia León, the island director of equality and diversity, remarked that “this initiative is part of the ‘Cultural Itineraries’ project, which falls within the Gaia programme, aiming to address and fulfil the needs and requests expressed by the main participants and beneficiaries of this initiative.”
Through this interdepartmental proposal, “it also highlights the significance of collaborative efforts towards gender equality within this institution,” she added.
At the Casa de Carta site, a guided tour of the exhibitions ‘Memory Threads’ and ‘Anatomies of a Dependency’ will take place.
Additionally, the Vicente Pérez Melián photographic archive will facilitate a dialogue between memory and photography, providing an opportunity for the museum to serve as a venue for development or revelation. This will occur during collective viewings of the photographs, which, in turn, will help reclaim their genuine social significance, away from the obscurity of the archive.
The Casa Lercaro facility will host a brief exploration of the permanent exhibition, followed by a rare opportunity to access a space where the collection of textiles and clothing is preserved.
Through various pieces, the significance of textile knowledge for these women will be recognised, as it has played a role in caregiving activities in some capacity.
Meanwhile, the Archaeological Museum (MUNA) offers a distinct itinerary for its permanent exhibition, aimed at overcoming the biases that have historically influenced the study of Guanche women, bringing to light their presence and the spaces they occupied.
In this manner, participants will engage in a meaningful gathering, exchanging valued experiences and knowledge through the lens of women within the context of archaeological heritage.
These visits are scheduled to occur during February, March, and April, from 10 am to 12.30 pm.
This project has received support from the municipalities of Buenavista del Norte, El Rosario, Villa de la Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Juan de la Rambla, Santa Úrsula, and Tegueste, which have encouraged the involvement of women from their communities and will facilitate their transportation to the museums.
