Formentera Intercultural comes to life as project for sociocultural coexistence, reflection and integration

foto 2023ii festa intercultural·Three weeks of cultural, leisure and educational activities, including Intercultural Festival on 2 April

Today Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera; Rafael Ramírez, social welfare councillor; Noelia González, director of the immigration service, and Manolo Oya presented Formentera Intercultural 2023, an initiative encompassing the day-long Festa Intercultural, which this year turns 18 on 2 April.

Said President Juan, "in recent decades our island has become a different, more plural and diverse society, with people from other backgrounds, cultures and customs. Sixty-six different nationalities live together on Formentera and with this plurality comes a duty and responsibility –on the part of society at large, social entities and public authorities– to spearhead measures and actions around mutual understanding and promote coexistence." As President Juan put it, "this is the motivation behind Intercultural Formentera, which marks an impulse towards a more mature, supportive and welcoming community."

A space for reflection
For his part, Councillor Ramírez offered that "Formentera Intercultural is about providing islanders with a space to reflect on migration, inequalities, integration and coexistence with a varied programme for a diverse public." The councillor additionally asserted that "one of the main goals was to bring certain realities to the educational community, particularly young people, with direct witnesses, to speak to multiple paradigms, among them racial discrimination."

Formentera Intercultural "is also about offering a space worthy of our current migratory drama, and emphasising our commonalities, which draw us closer", said Ramírez.

The programme –the product of months-long preparation by the Immigration Service, with collaboration from Manolo Oya– includes cultural, recreational educational activities. The image of Formentera Intercultural is the work of artist Sean Mackaoui. Related actions will run from 20 March and 5 April.

cartell 2023ii festa intercultural

Programming
Monday 20 March. Exhibition: Migrants on Formentera. Monday 20 March to Saturday 1 April at Sala d'Exposicions "Ajuntament Vell". Exhibition on the Formentera of emigrants in the past, the welcoming Formentera of today and a place of passage for migrations to Europe.

Friday 24 March. Radio talk show. Ràdio Illa Tertùlia: Venc de fora i som formenterenc, first-hand experiences.

Tuesday 28 March to Friday 31 March. World cuisines workshop. Gastronomic afternoons with workshops where participants learn how to prepare dishes from Morocco, Romania, China and Colombia. At IES Marc Ferrer.

22, 25 and 29 March. Film Forum at the Casal de Joves + Holi party Cinema. Forum on anti-racism, cooperation and coexistence + Holi party.

Thursday and Friday, 30-31 March, talks by Moha Gerehou, expert in anti-racist outreach. Thursday 30 March at 8.00pm in Casa del Poble (La Mola) [for general public] and Friday 31 March at 11.00am in the Sala de Cultura (Cinema) [for pupils, years five and six].

Sunday 2 April. Festa Intercultural, 12.30pm to 7.00pm, at Plaça d'Europa (Es Pujols). A popular celebration with gastronomic samplings from various countries and Spanish autonomous communities, performances by local dance groups, concert by Latino jazz band Timba Tumbet, and a concert by singer Lia Kali to round off the festival.

Tuesday 4 April. Presentation of "Tres días en la arena", Ibrahim Bah's book chronicling his migratory journey, at 8.00pm in Casa del Poble (La Mola). Attendees will also screen a video of a performance by Bah.

Wednesday 5 April. Theatre: "El Rei del Gurugú" and closing colloquium with the participation of Ibrahim Bah at Sala de Cultura-Cinema. 11.00am (for pupils at IES Marc Ferrer) and 8.00pm (for general public).

27 February 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera