Following the debacle at the Rodin Museum and the acknowledgment that the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was unsure about how to utilize the Viera and Clavijo Park post-refurbishment, a purpose has finally been identified for the extensive building and its gardens.
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, disclosed on Wednesday the outcomes of the sector consultations regarding the Cultural Park, which were initiated by the Autonomous Agency of Culture (OAC) last February. He revealed that “after evaluating all the submitted proposals, the project that aligns best with the established objectives and requirements is that proposed by the La Caixa Foundation, materialising in the initiative known as CaixaForum Tenerife.”
The new CaixaForum Tenerife Centre, which will join the network of cultural and scientific outreach centres supported by the La Caixa Foundation throughout Spain, aims to embed itself within the city, engaging with its cultural and social milieu, listening to citizens, and being accessible to all audiences, as outlined by the City Council.
“Situated in one of the most significant historical locations within Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the centre is envisioned as a lively and inclusive space for the entire community. The future centre’s programming, which will be varied and inclusive, will encompass exhibitions, lectures, workshops, screenings, live performances, educational initiatives, social projects, technological advancements, and themed summer evenings,” he stated.
Furthermore, the presence of a CaixaForum in this capital “signals integration into a well-established network of cultural centres that are already thriving in various cities and contexts across the nation.” He added that this tried-and-tested model has proven its capacity to foster synergies among professionals, creators, and cultural entities, promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences, and emphasising that it will benefit from the expertise and insights garnered from other CaixaForum locations while contributing its unique identity and cultural richness to this network.
With this multidisciplinary and inclusive strategy, CaixaForum Tenerife is set to become “a dynamic, interconnected, and open meeting space, where creativity, knowledge, and collaboration thrive, enriching the cultural landscape of the city and inspiring both current and future generations.” Likewise, Santa Cruz de Tenerife will enhance the CaixaForum Network with its diversity, talent, and cultural and social heritage, thereby solidifying a model of shared success.
The La Caixa Foundation will allocate approximately 2 million euros annually to provide content and operational structure for the future CaixaForum Tenerife centre. This financial commitment has been elaborated through a feasibility study and a tailored financing plan that does not impose any costs on the City Council.
Three Major Programming Pillars
The proposals, designed for all demographics, with a particular focus on schools, families, youth, and vulnerable individuals, will revolve around three principal programming axes: culture and the arts, science and technology, and education. All initiatives are geared towards democratising culture and science with the aim of social transformation.
The building, offering an operational area of 3,800 m2, will feature two versatile spaces, interactive areas with dynamic programming, a gallery for permanent exhibitions—approximately 250 m2—and a café. Additionally, part of the informative activities will take place in the external gardens of the building. In a subsequent phase, an auditorium will be integrated into the facilities.
Permanent and Temporary Programming
The upcoming Caixaforum Tenerife Centre will provide, in part, ongoing programming and, in part, temporary exhibitions. The former will feature a permanent display of cultural or scientific content, which will be updated periodically. Furthermore, it will offer guided tours and various engagement initiatives aimed at making art accessible to all audiences, establishing itself as a cultural focal point in the city.
The centre will include interactive areas designed to present scientific knowledge in an innovative and approachable manner, particularly aimed at families, schools, and young people. Through interactive modules and technological resources, visitors will be encouraged to explore, experiment, and learn through play and curiosity. Additionally, a creative laboratory will serve as a versatile space for families, schools, and young individuals to engage with diverse forms of artistic expression, with renewable workshops and suitable resources to inspire creativity in visual arts, music, design, and more.
In conjunction with permanent exhibitions, Caixaforum Tenerife will offer a recurring programme of activities for all audiences. This programme is structured around two main annual periods (September to May and June to August), featuring a varied agenda encompassing multiple formats and contents. It consists of five programme blocks that include a school programme for family weekends, with performances, workshops, film screenings, reading areas, and play spaces, among others.
Another segment will focus on cultural and scientific dissemination, featuring encounters, conferences, dialogues, debates, and screenings, among other events. There will also be concerts and performances in the performing arts, along with a special initiative called summer nights—a hallmark project that gives a unique character to the summer evenings, attracting audiences of all ages around a selection of artistic performances and showcases.
Rehabilitation works in two phases and a new auditorium
Following the future concession of this venue by the City Council to the “La Caixa” Foundation, the municipality commits to bringing the building up to a technical standard. In fact, the complex is currently undergoing the first phase of rehabilitation works, which are expected to conclude by 2026. Once this initial phase is completed, the second phase, involving the construction of a new auditorium named after Pérez Minik, is set to commence.
However, the “La Caixa” Foundation does not rule out initiating its cultural and scientific dissemination project once the current works are finished, parallel to the ongoing construction of the Auditorium, which is overseen by the City Council. Regardless, following the announcement made today, Santa Cruz City Council and the “La Caixa” Foundation will need to finalise all details regarding the future concession, which is anticipated to happen soon.
Bermúdez was joined at the announcement by the Deputy Director General of Culture and Territory of the “La Caixa” Foundation, Rafael Chueca, who outlined the details of the project that will reinvigorate this iconic space in the Chicharrera capital. Also present were the Councilor for Culture, Santiago Díaz Mejías; the Councilor for Infrastructure, Javier Rivero; and the Councilor of the Health-La Salle district, Zaida González.
Bermúdez expressed that “we are very pleased that this capital will house a Caixaforum centre, as the Viera and Clavijo Cultural Park is thereby endorsed by other entities across the nation, becoming the first CaixaForum in the Canary Islands.”
For his part, Rafael Chueca emphasised that “the values embedded in the Caixaforum DNA are closely linked to the synergy established with other venues across Spain, thus forming a network that benefits and educates us all.” He highlighted that “the fundamental concept of these spaces we manage is their accessibility to the majority, yet without overlooking the vulnerable, ensuring a strong local focus while remaining connected to global perspectives.”
