The vibrant capital of Tenerife is getting ready for a year packed with cultural excitement. From the much-anticipated arrival of Velázquez’s painting “El Venado” on May 13, set to be exhibited for the first time in the Canary Islands at the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, to an upcoming exhibition featuring the works of artist Juan Miranda (scheduled from January 27 to March 24). These are cultural events of immense significance that will blend art with the melodious sounds of music, in the backdrop of the planned relocation of the Peñón Rock festival from Puerto de la Cruz to Santa Cruz in October, with the popular pop band Hombres G expected to take center stage at the event.
The Councilor for Culture of the Capital City Council, Santiago Díaz, unveiled, “These are just a few of the projects in the pipeline for this year, as we aim to bring Culture to the streets and make it accessible to people of all ages.” This extensive program of cultural initiatives was outlined during the presentation of the department’s 2024 budgets, totaling 7.1 million euros, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. Out of this total, 500,000 euros will be allocated to Museums, with special emphasis on the temporary exhibition housing Velázquez’s inaugural work in the Canary Islands. “Thanks to a collaboration with the Prado Museum, we have secured the temporary loan of the painting ‘El Venado’ to be exhibited in Tenerife from May 13 to June 9, complementing the existing collection in our museum space,” explained Díaz.
This cultural milestone will be complemented by a series of activities centered around the renowned international painter, including discussions, lectures, and guided tours. “The only condition set by El Prado is the restoration of a work from our Museum’s collection, for which we will allocate 45,000 euros,” the councilor mentioned.
Furthermore, the Museum of Fine Arts is all set to host another exhibition featuring the works of artist Juan de Miranda from tomorrow until March 24, marking the tercentenary of the painter’s birth, who stands as one of the foremost representatives of Canarian art in the Modern era. The exhibition, previously showcased in Madrid, is now making its way to the capital of Tenerife, where a part of it will be on display at the Instituto Canarias Cabrera Pinto and the rest at the Museum of Fine Arts, as highlighted by the mayor.
What’s more, another cultural highlight is the music scene, as Santa Cruz is vying to become a permanent hub for rock music and is all set to host the Peñón Rock Festival for the very first time in October, previously held with great public acclaim in Puerto de la Cruz. According to Díaz, the renowned band Hombres G is anticipated to headline the festival.
In this regard, the Culture department is considering staging the Rock Festival, spanning two days (Friday and Saturday), from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Palmetum area or the dock esplanade, with an estimated five performances by national and Canarian bands each day.
The main attraction will be the iconic ’80s band Hombres G, with tickets set to go on sale once the event dates are finalized, clarified the councilor. “The intention is for this rock festival to evolve into a permanent cultural extravaganza for the city,” he concluded.
