Canary Islands Support Las Palmas’ Bid for European Capital of Culture 2031
The regional president, Fernando Clavijo, and the Minister of Culture, Migdalia Machín, emphasise that this initiative strengthens the cultural prominence of the Islands within the EU. The Government of the Canary Islands has officially supported the Manifesto endorsing Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2031. This proposal, promoted by the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, boasts significant social and institutional backing.
Support from Local Authorities
The city’s mayor, Carolina Darias, highlighted that this endorsement “means that the Government of the Canary Islands is the first institution to join this initiative. We are excited and prepared for this challenge, which we have worked on diligently and collectively. We are reviving a dream of the city initiated in 2010, with a slogan that we find immensely appealing: ‘Rebellion of Geography’.”
Darias further stated, “Through this proposal, we want to give voice to the island cities of the European Union and present a new perspective. We aim for the periphery, margins and shores to become the epicentre of cultural conversation. Drawing from the experiences of both the Canary Islands and our city, we seek to address the challenges ahead. For us, these shores have been a source of motivation and a driving force that has allowed us to reach our current standing.”
The Importance of the Initiative
The Canary Islands Government’s endorsement of the Manifesto, driven by the City Council, was announced in an event attended by regional president Fernando Clavijo, the Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín, and mayor Carolina Darias. The significance of this candidacy for bolstering the cultural projection of the Canary Islands within Europe was strongly emphasised.
President Clavijo noted, “Becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2031 is an ambition shared by Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and all of the Canary Islands, as it is a project that amplifies the archipelago’s voice in Europe. Moreover, what is being highlighted is the power of culture as an instrument of unity, identity, and progress.”
Clavijo added, “Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has managed to transform our geographical uniqueness through this candidacy into an opportunity, a welcoming, diverse, and innovative space where tradition coexists with modernity. This Atlantic identity, on the southern border of Europe, grants us a unique voice that can enrich European culture.”
Cultural Vision for the Future
In her remarks, Minister Migdalia Machín affirmed that “supporting this candidacy means investing in a model of a city that understands culture as a right and as a space for innovation and coexistence. The Ministry endorses this journey with the conviction that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria can become a cultural benchmark in Europe, capable of uniting tradition with modernity and showcasing the talent of the Canary Islands within the European context.”
With this backing, the Government of the Canary Islands is joining an initiative that reinforces the cultural projection of the archipelago and solidifies the role of culture as an essential component in building a more open, participative society that is connected with Europe.
