The Fundación Tres Culturas del Mediterráneo is preparing to reopen its doors to the public, after being forced to cancel its entire on-site programme in mid-March as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. At that time, the events planned at its headquarters and other venues were replaced by online activities (more than 60 home recitals, films, conferences, training, legal advice for immigrants, a reading club, proposals for children, etc.). However, since the de-escalation began and cultural activity in museums and other cultural centres was activated, the Foundation's team began to organise itself with a new objective: to once again feel the applause of the public at its headquarters.
This is how 'Back to Three Cultures' came about, a special programme that will mark the return to what has been called the "new normal" from 23 June. On that day the Foundation's projectors will be switched on again to resume the 'Tuesday cinema' in an exceptional setting, the Andalusian Gardens of the Hassan II Pavilion, where every Tuesday at 22.00 hours there will be a summer cinema. In addition, given the special circumstances we have been going through in recent months, the Foundation will not close in August as usual, but during this period there will also be a film programme.
To this end, the Foundation's staff are currently working on the adaptation of this space according to the prevention and distance indications established in the de-escalation, so that in addition to the stalls, the public will also have tables for dining, as an ambigú service will be offered. In total, according to the estimates of the Tres Culturas team, there will be seating for 190 people.
The screenings will open with Some time laterthe last film by José Luis Cuerda, paying tribute to the creator of the amanecista movement, who recently passed away. There will also be films by other Spanish directors such as Fernando Colomo (Before the burning), Santiago Segura (Straightforward), Javier Ruiz Caldera (Superlópez), Javier Amboris and Javier Calvo (The call) and the directors Marta Díaz (My dear brotherhood) or Inés de León (What's at stake?), among others.
All these productions are national comedies, which will be joined on the billboard by other feature films of the same genre from different countries that have received good reviews and have been very well received by the public: The cow, by Mohamed Hamidi; The best recipeby John Goldsmid or The invisible ones, by Louis Julien Petit.
There will also be a place for literature in this programme with a poetry recital sung by two Andalusian singers: Lucía Sócam and Juan Luis Pineda. On Thursday, 25 June, at 21.00 hours, we will be able to attend 'Dos del Sur', a beautiful proposal with which they pay tribute to a tribute to the great authors of all times, while addressing issues such as freedoms, women's dignity, the defence of the underprivileged and the union of peoples from all over the world in universal values.
The high point of the programme will come in July, a month in which, along with the Tuesday cinema, every Thursday concerts will be organised in this same space, open-air musical evenings entitled 'Las mil y una músicas' (22.00 hours). This is a cycle of five recitals designed to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in a setting of singular beauty, a journey around the world based on different musical styles (flamenco, boleros, bossa nova, African rhythms...), which delves into crossbreeding and enrichment through diversity.
The internationally renowned musician and anthropologist Raúl Rodríguez Quiñones will open this cycle on 2 July. This producer, composer, guitarist and creator of Tres Flamenco has shared the stage with performers of the highest level, from Chavela Vargas, Compay Segundo, Jackson Browne, Enrique Morente, Javier Ruibal, Jorge Drexler, Raimundo and Rafael Amador, Javier Barón, Arcángel, Rocío Molina, Miguel Poveda, Mayte Martín, Luz Casal or his mother, the singer Martirio.
From 2003 to 2008, he was part of the group Son de la Frontera, performing in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Havana, Miami, Mexico City, Montreal, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Stockholm, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, the Jerez Flamenco Festival, the Bienal de Sevilla and the Gazpacho de Morón, among many others. His second work with this group, CALHe also won several awards and was nominated for 'Best Flamenco Album' at the 2007 GRAMMY Awards. In 2008 he left the group and, as a solo artist, he has published two book-discs: Reason for Son (2014) y The Electric Root (2017), while continuing to collaborate with performers from all over the world and participating in interesting musical projects.
All activities will be free of charge and will have a limited capacity, so the public is advised to arrive at the venue half an hour before the start of the event. In addition, spectators will have to comply with the safety rules defined by the health authorities (mask, distance, avoid contact...) and their temperature will be taken before entering each activity".
José Manuel Cervera, director of the Fundación Tres Culturas said that "this is an extremely high quality programme that brings together two types of events that have been the hallmark of this foundation since its inception, film and music. The novelty, although we have sometimes had events outside, is that this cycle is taking place entirely in the Jardines Andalusíes for two reasons: first, because this way we can guarantee that we will reach the maximum possible audience, despite the restrictions defined by the security rules that we all have to follow and that indoors would have hindered us much more; and second, because this year we are going to spend the whole summer with our audience, whom we have missed so much during this time, and we wanted our cultural offer to be adapted to the summer period, when outdoor events are more enjoyable".
Cervera pointed out that "it is true that adapting all this outdoor space requires a great effort, logistically and financially, but at the Fundación Tres Culturas we wanted to do it not only to meet again with the public who have been loyal to this institution for more than twenty years, but also as a clear commitment to the Andalusian cultural sector, with artists and companies in the sector who work in our land and who now, more than ever, need those of us who have been working with them for so long to help them overcome this difficult time".
"Rebuilding the economic and social fabric and mitigating the damage caused by the epidemic is everyone's task. And this exciting programme is our first contribution to this collective endeavour," concluded the director.
Portuguese