Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 28 Mar. (Europa Press) –
The University of La Laguna is set to host the annual gathering of the Cervantes Institute directors at the end of July, a conference that will bring together nearly a hundred leaders from the institution, with Queen Letizia traditionally in attendance, as reported by the academic institution in a statement on Friday.
This Friday, the director of the Institute, Luis García Montero, formalised a collaboration agreement at the University of La Laguna with three local institutions that will assist in organising and hosting this meeting: the University of La Laguna, the City of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, and the Cajacanarias Foundation.
During the event, the rector of the University, Francisco García Rodríguez, expressed his “pride” in being the venue for the annual gathering of the Cervantes Institute directors, emphasising the notable fact that it is celebrated in the Canary Islands, “the birthplace of the Spanish language model that expanded across the New World,” which adds “greater significance” to the occasion.
He underscored the islands’ strategic importance in Spain’s relationship with Africa, noting that the Cervantes Institute could be a vital ally in this context.
García Montero articulated that this annual assembly, where nearly a hundred directors and managerial staff convene to share experiences and explore future opportunities, “is always approached with pride, yet without complacency,” aiming to “transform the institute’s network into the finest ambassador for Tenerife and the Canary Islands globally.”
He recalled the institution’s close collaboration with universities, emphasising that being affiliated with the University of La Laguna “means being linked to one of the premier academic references within the Spanish community.”
Notable Canarian artists such as Martín Chirino or Cristino de Vera have been showcased in the Cervantes Institutes in Rome and Paris by the CajaCanarias Foundation, as highlighted by its president, Margarita Ramos Quintana, who characterised the Cervantes Institute’s decision “to select these islands” as “a significant achievement.”
The deputy mayor of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Badel Albelo, highlighted the “great opportunity” created by hosting the sessions and activities associated with the institution’s meeting, viewing it as “a chance to continue developing as a municipality.”
On the agreement
The action protocols signed by the four institutions indicate that this event holds considerable importance for the cultural landscape concerning the hosting cities and the potential for the meetings to also facilitate the organisation of related activities.
Accordingly, the agreements stipulate that the signatory Canary Entities will invite the Cervantes Institute to use their facilities for the inaugural, closing sessions, work, and administrative tasks of the support staff for the annual meeting, alongside other activities that may be arranged in conjunction with this gathering.
Thus, the development of cultural initiatives in various forms and artistic expressions (such as exhibitions, concerts, seminars, or assemblies, for instance) will allow the showcasing of the richness and cultural diversity of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and, in general, throughout the Canary Islands.
The agreements also include promoting cultural programmes or initiatives spearheaded by the municipality of San Cristóbal de la Laguna for dissemination at the Cervantes Institute’s headquarters and its centres abroad, alongside the exchange of information regarding cultural projects of mutual interest.
Since 2005 (with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic), the Cervantes Institute has held annual meetings with the directors of its overseas centres and their entire management team, where discussions focus on strategies for the international promotion of Spanish language and culture.
This will be the first occasion it is held in the Canary Islands. So far, eleven autonomous communities have hosted these sessions: Andalusia, Catalonia, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, Cantabria, Extremadura, La Rioja, Galicia, Basque Country, Valencian Community, and the Principality of Asturias.
