SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, April 30. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A significant meeting took place today at the Casa Mesa de San Cristóbal de La Laguna, where the Joint Commission of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands-Catholic Church convened for the first time in the current legislative session, with the renewal of its members.
The General Directorate of Culture and Cultural Heritage presented a preliminary draft of future regulations designed to enhance the organization and operation of the body responsible for safeguarding properties owned by the Catholic Church in the Canary Islands, which accounts for 25% of the Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC) on the islands.
The Joint Commission is comprised of representatives from the Government of the Canary Islands, island councils, members of the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (FECAN), and representatives from the Dioceses of the Canary Islands and San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
Chaired by Miguel Ángel Clavijo from the General Directorate of Culture and Cultural Heritage and vice-chaired by Eloy Santiago, Secretary General-Chancellor of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, discussions at the meeting revolved around cataloguing, measures for dissemination, and research related to ecclesiastical assets.
Clavijo highlighted the importance of establishing the foundations and criteria that define the utility of this body, emphasising the need to achieve consensus on the ongoing review of regulations. He stressed that the focus is not only on internal planning but also on ensuring that the remarkable heritage held by the Church in the Canary Islands can be preserved more effectively for the benefit of all citizens.
In addition to receiving input from members on the new regulations, the meeting also addressed the registration of movable properties linked to the Church. The Government outlined guidelines for future BIC declarations with associated assets to streamline documentation and re-examine past BIC declarations to establish consistent technical criteria.
Projects for Restoration
A key point of discussion was the procedures and criteria for approving restoration projects. At the meeting, seventeen projects for the restoration and conservation of movable properties in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma were approved, with a total budget of almost 250,000 euros.
The Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna presented twelve interventions totalling 88,000 euros, including restoration work on various paintings in the Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de La Orotava (Tenerife), mural paintings on the exterior of the Parish of Santiago Apóstol in Los Realejos (Tenerife), and the sculpture of “Our Lady of Piety” in the Parish of Our Lady of Montserrat in San Andrés y Sauces (La Palma).
Approval was also granted for five interventions proposed by the Diocese of the Canary Islands, including the restoration of altarpieces of the Virgen de la Antigua and San José, a painting of Jesus condemned to death, and scenes I and II of the Way of the Cross displayed at the Cathedral of Santa Ana in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A sum of 159,000 euros has been earmarked for these projects and other assets related to the ecclesiastical heritage of Gran Canaria.
