Tuesday, 28 March 2017 16:28
The Formentera Council's Office of Education and Culture unveiled its calendar of activities today for the commemoration of Saint George, or, as he is known in Catalan, Sant Jordi. In the words of department head Susana Labrador, the programme, which spans all of April, “was conceived as a way to bring our culture to local audiences both young and old”. Things kick off Saturday, April 1, with a performance of Acorar. Playwright and actor Toni Gomila helms a visceral monologue that takes audiences to the heart of Mallorca for a hog slaughter, any islander's go-to social gathering. The decadence of the event serves as shorthand for the decline of traditional Mallorca and, by proxy, the world as we've known it till now. The show, presented by Ferro, starts at 9.00pm in the cinema (Sala de Cultura).
Kids' activities
Sharing the opening slot of the children's events calendar are two events where kids will be able to use recycled materials to build their own dragons. The first workshop takes place Wednesday, April 5, at 5.30pm in the Sant Ferran library and the second on Friday, April 7 at 5.00pm in Marià Villangómez library. The following Saturday, April 8, is another day for the kids when the street theatre production “El niu de Dudu & Cia” hits plaça de la Constitució in Sant Francesc. This family-friendly show is a consummate work-in-progress: actors make their way down the street and neither words nor rules stand in the way of the surprises and laughs that emerge from interactions with the surrounding public.
Book launches
Monday, April 10, Òscar Mayans shares Espurnes de sensacions with Formentera readers. As the author's first solo publication, the book offers a glimpse into Mayans' inner workings. The launch and a talk with the author will be held at 8.00pm in Marià Villangómez library.
Friday, April 21, Obra Cultura Balear presents a launch of David Guinard and Artur Parron's Aurora Picornell (1912-1937). The event will take place at the Marià Villangómez library.
Concert
Also on Friday, local legends Uc perform on Formentera. Co-presented by Espai_F and Illenc at la Mola's Casa del Poble, the concert starts at 8.00pm.
Book stands
All morning long on Sant Jordi day (Sunday, April 23), books retired from the collections of Formentera libraries or donated from local cultural groups can be picked up for free at outposts across Sant Francesc's central plaza. Trade-ins will also be accepted.
Centennial celebration of 'Gabrielet'
The same day, at 12 noon in the cinema, winners will be announced for two children's contests that this year turn 18—a bookmark designing competition named for Antoni Tur “Gabrielet” and Robert Lewis Baldon's celebration of children's literature. Organisers of this year's edition say they hope to keep the memory alive of two seminal local figures. Both left Formentera with important legacies, artistic in one case and literary in the other. Councillor Labrador called the two competitions “a chance to promote reading and creative writing among Formentera youth”. As part of this year's centennial celebration of Tur's birth, participants will reflect on the prompt, “Art all around me”. Entertainment at the awards ceremony will be handled by Ho toquen tot.
Discussion, children's theatre and documentary
The activities continue Monday, April 24, with a look at Bartomeu Ribes' collection of poetry titled Els avisos. The evening, hosted by Maria Teresa Ferrer, Joan Ferrer and the author himself and presented by the local arm of Obra Cultural Balear (OCBF), begins at 8.00pm in Marià Villangómez library.
At 6.00pm on Friday, April 28, Formentera kids are invited to attend a storytelling session by Cristina Garcia at Marià Villangómez library called “Contes Salvatges” (“Savage Tales”).
At 8.30pm that same evening, Miquel Brunet presents his documentary Ferments to crowds in la Mola. The presentation is part of OCBF's Primavera Cultural programme.
Imaràntia, end of festivities
Capping the calendar of events, OCBF will host a 9.00pm concert by Imaràntia on Saturday, April 29 at la Mola's Casa del Poble.
Activities, coordinated by the CiF Office of Culture, had the support of local libraries and special collaboration from Formentera schools, as well as groups like Amics de la Biblioteca Internacional, OCBF, Espai_F, Ràdio Illa and Illenc.