The rural culture will take centre stage in Lanzarote over the coming months. The island council, along with the Society of Culture, Recreation, and Sports (SCRD) Torrelavega, has launched the programme titled “Lanzarote and Rural Culture”, designed to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the historic Arrecife society.
Events will kick off on Thursday, 25th September, featuring exhibitions, lectures, and a concert, running until mid-November. The calendar includes activities that highlight the island’s agricultural landscape and its rural traditions, which were recently recognised by the FAO with the designation of Lanzarote as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (SIPAM).
Lectures and Concerts
The inauguration will feature two exhibitions: Agricultural Landscapes by photographer Gustavo Medina, and Farming Tools of Lanzarote by Tomás Acosta. The day will conclude with the concert Identity, performed by the group Acatife along with guest soloists.
October will be filled with lectures analysing the relationship between agriculture, water, and territory. On 2nd October, Alejandro González Morales, Ascensión Robayna, and Juan Cazorla will present talks focused on agroecology, water resources, and the cultivation of cochineal. On 16th October, Tenerife-based singer Besay Pérez will give a recital at the SCRD’s headquarters.
The series of talks will continue on 30th October with presentations from Arantxa Robles Santana, who will discuss rural culture as a factor in identity cohesion, and José de León Hernández, who will examine the historical significance of the peasantry in Lanzarote.
November Concludes the Cycle
The programme will culminate in November with two key events. A round table discussion will take place on 6th November, moderated by historian Mario Ferrer, featuring experts and farmers from the island to debate the current state and future of the sector. A week later, on 13th November, the cycle will conclude with music from Los Corujo, alongside guest artists such as Yeray Betancort, Pancho Corujo, and Ciro Corujo.
The president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasised that this programme invites reflection on what it means to be an island society and the value of our rural identity. From the Department of Landscape and Food Sovereignty, Samuel Martín highlighted the importance of promoting rural culture not just as a heritage but as a commitment for the future.
The president of SCRD Torrelavega, Antonio Ramos, expressed gratitude for the institutional support and stated that the initiative aims to bring the public closer to “the art, memory, and symbols of Lanzarote’s agricultural heritage.”
With this cultural agenda, the island strengthens its connection to the countryside and a tradition that has adapted to the aridity of the land, now receiving international recognition as an example of sustainability.
