The Cabildo de Tenerife, through the Insular Craft Company, is presenting an extensive programme of courses in Traditional Artisan Crafts, as part of the Craft Training Plan 2025. This initiative is in collaboration with the Ibero-American Handicraft Museum of Tenerife (MAIT) and the municipalities of San Juan de la Rambla, Candelaria, and La Orotava. The courses were unveiled in the noble hall of the Insular Corporation, attended by the Minister of Education and Employment, Efraín Medina; the Manager of the Insular Company, Ricardo Cólogan; the head of Education at MAIT, Domingo Reyes; and local artisans Milagros Amador and Nieves Álvarez.
Training
Efraín Medina underscored the significance of the plan, which encompasses “500 hours of training in these traditional crafts, which we will also extend to educational centres.” Furthermore, the advisor conveyed a focus on “educating, preserving, disseminating, and promoting the artisan trades of Tenerife, developing new artisans and rejuvenating existing ones.” He emphasised the intention to particularly concentrate on traditional crafts, alongside fostering essential generational renewal and sustainability over time, stating, “these professions possess a rich cultural and heritage value, and with artisans reaching advanced ages, they face a significant risk of decline.”
Persuasion
Echoing this sentiment, Ricardo Cólogan encouraged the community to appreciate traditional crafts and the fundamental products they yield.
Domingo Reyes announced that the courses are segmented into two sections. The first includes beginner-level training in embroidery, drawing, two varieties of Roseta (conducted in La Orotava and Candelaria), traditional garment creation, basketry, and knife-making. The basic courses will cover Castaño basketry, traditional cane and wickerwork, and loom techniques. Remarkably, just half an hour after registration opened, all places were filled, highlighting the interest in artisanry, especially among the youth, as noted by Efraín Medina.
Beginners
The Masterclass in embroidery will be led by artisan Carmen Gloria Rodríguez Rocha, running from February 6 to April 10 (Thursdays) from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at MAIT La Orotava. Concurrently, Miguelina Hernández Bautista will conduct a class on drawing from February 11 to March 25, 2025 (Tuesdays and Fridays, excluding March 4) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Milagros Amador González will elaborate on the Roseta technique from February 7 to April 11 (Fridays), also from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Las Miquelas Pottery Centre in Candelaria will host another Roseta course by Antonio D. Rodríguez Ruiz, running from February 10 to March 31, 2025 (Mondays) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The traditional clothing course will be instructed by artisans Juan de la Cruz, María Candelaria Acosta, and Francisca Afonso between February 10 and March 5 (Mondays and Wednesdays) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Also at La Orotava, Antonio D. Rodríguez Ruiz will teach Palma basketry from February 4 to March 29 (Tuesdays, and Saturdays on the 15th, 22nd, and 29th, excluding March 4) from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lastly, Daniel Castro González will introduce the techniques of knob-making at MAIT from March 10 to April 2 (Mondays and Wednesdays) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Basic Courses
There are two basic courses available. Firstly, Marcelino Reyes González will teach courses on chestnut, cane, and wicker baskets. These will run from February 10 to May 7 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Casa Amarilla Craft Centre in San Juan de la Rambla. Secondly, Juan de la Cruz and Laura Roncel will instruct traditional loom techniques from February 5 to April 14 (Mondays and Wednesdays) from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
