The Governing Council of the Cabildo de Tenerife approved an investment of €1.853 million yesterday for the foundational project and consolidation execution of the Baudet Theatre, situated in Santa Cruz (within a building on the Avenida de Canarias) and owned by the Insular Corporation since 1999. This was announced in a press conference by the vice president, Lope Afonso, alongside the second vice president, José Miguel Ruano, following the Council’s meeting.
This project was previously reported in the press last January, where repairs and consolidation of the roof over the main hall of the historic cinema and the structure of the building will be realised. This action represents the initial phase for its upcoming cultural utilisation as a versatile venue.
Lope Afonso stated that the timeframe for this work is twelve months. Enhancements will include improvements to structural systems, bolstering the building’s framework through structural reinforcement of the concrete structure, and repairing and rehabilitating metal profiles on the roof. This will encompass enveloping systems, conditioning, insulation, and replacement of the flat roofing materials, in addition to adjusting the stage settings and replacing fibercement coverings in the auditorium, among other tasks.
In a subsequent statement, the Minister of Culture and Museums of Tenerife, José Carlos Acha, emphasised that the Baudet Theatre, which opened on 25th May 1944 as one of the initial projects by the Tenerife architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado, represents “an icon of the era of grand cinemas that has been preserved to this day.” He noted that the same riveted beams used in the construction of its amphitheatre were those of the Eiffel Tower, and over the years, the building has served various purposes, closing its doors in the 1980s. Since then, its facilities have suffered deterioration due to the effects of time and inclement weather.
Other Agreements
Moreover, José Miguel Ruano explained that the Council also approved the advancement of the Tenerife project aimed at creating new employment opportunities for 2025-2026, which entails a total investment of €4.1 million, with €843,803 coming from the Cabildo, while the remainder is provided by the Canarian Employment Service (SCE), also co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus. The objective is to facilitate initial work experience through a training contract aimed at obtaining professional practice. These practice contracts will last between 6 and 12 months and are associated with nearly twenty councils or services of the Cabildo.
Additionally, contracts for the management and oversight of five rehabilitation and enhancement projects for various roads across the island were awarded for a total of nearly €800,000. In the cultural sector, the foundations and the call for grants to non-profit entities in Tenerife for the implementation of cultural projects in 2025, amounting to €674,000, were approved.
In the realm of social action, the Governing Council sanctioned the foundations and call for a grant worth €130,000 for all municipalities on the island, aimed at encouraging and enhancing participation among children and adolescents.