Los actos comenzarán el próximo jueves, 25 de septiembre, con exposiciones, ponencias y conciertos; y se prolongarán hasta el mes de noviembre
80th Anniversary Celebrations of SCRD Torrelavega
The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through its Landscape and Food Sovereignty department, has unveiled a programme of activities organised by the Society of Culture, Recreation, and Sports (SCRD) Torrelavega, titled ‘Lanzarote and Rural Culture’, in celebration of its 80th anniversary. The events will commence on Thursday, 25 September, featuring exhibitions, conferences, and concerts.
Significance of the Celebration
Oswaldo Betancort, the President of the island corporation, emphasised the historical importance of this society based in Arrecife. He highlighted both his and the Cabildo’s commitment to bolstering public support for the efforts of groups and associations dedicated to fostering debate, knowledge, and local cultural offerings with a strong sense of identity. “This commemoration invites us to reflect together on how to leverage what we have and who we are as an advantage in facing current and future challenges,” he noted.
Commitment to Culture and Heritage
Samuel Martín, head of the Landscape and Food Sovereignty department, underscored that through these events, “the Cabildo of Lanzarote reaffirms its commitment to protecting landscapes, food sovereignty, and promoting rural culture, understood not only as heritage but as a horizon for the future.” He also highlighted the high calibre of the speakers, which includes academics, technicians, viticulturists, farmers, and artists from the island, who will share their insights on topics such as agro-economy, water and territory, landscape, and rural history.
Present at the press conference announcing the programme was Jesús Machín Tavío, the Cultural Councillor of the institution, whose department is also involved in the execution of the activities.
Collaboration and Goals
Antonio Ramos, President of SCRD Torrelavega, expressed gratitude for the collaboration from the Cabildo of Lanzarote and outlined the agenda of these events, aiming primarily to bring the public closer to the art, memory, and symbols of agricultural heritage.
To mark its 80th anniversary, SCRD Torrelavega has launched this celebration running between September and November, featuring exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and a round table discussing agriculture, landscape, and the identity of Lanzarote.
Recognition for Sustainable Agriculture
This initiative is part of the recent declaration of Lanzarote as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the FAO, recognising the island as a model of sustainable agriculture and human adaptation to an extremely arid environment.
Councillor Samuel Martín reminded attendees that the Cabildo of Lanzarote will collect this significant distinction in Rome before the end of the year, conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Detailed Programme
As part of its Cultural Programme 2025, in collaboration with the FAO and the Cabildo of Lanzarote, SCRD Torrelavega will kick off its autumn agenda on 25 September, inaugurating two exhibitions: “Agricultural Landscapes” by Gustavo Medina, and “Farming Tools of Lanzarote” by Tomás Acosta. The opening will also feature a concert titled “Identity,” performed by the group Acatife alongside invited soloists such as Orlando Niz, Sara Bermúdez, Juanma Padrón, and Almudena Hernández.
The series will continue in October with several lectures addressing the relationship between agriculture and Lanzarote’s territory. On 2 October, Alejandro González Morales will discuss Agriculture, Water, and Territory in Lanzarote, while Ascensión Robayna will focus on Agroecology in Lanzarote, and Juan Cazorla will present on the Landscape of the Prickly Pear and Cochineal. Later that month, on 16 October, Besay Pérez will perform in concert.
The discussions will return on 30 October with new perspectives on the rural world: Arantxa Robles Santana will present “Rural Culture as Resistance and Identity Cohesion”; and José de León Hernández will discuss the Historical Dimension of Lanzarote’s Peasantry.
In November, the programme will culminate with two key events. On 6 November, a round table moderated by historian Mario Ferrer will bring together experts and key figures from the island’s agricultural sector, including Domingo Brito, Teno Osorio, Lourdes Rodríguez, Francisco Mesa, and Famara Guadalupe. Finally, on 13 November, the series will conclude with a performance by Los Corujo, featuring guest artists such as Yeray Betancort, Ciro Corujo, Pancho Corujo, José Vicente Pérez, Adrián Niz, Acorán Ramos, and Genaro Pérez.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote considers the care and promotion of the many values surrounding traditional landscapes and the island’s cultural cohesion to be central to current public management.
