Cáceres has officially presented the city’s project to bid for European Capital of Culture in 2031.
The presentation took place at the Ministry of Culture before experts designated for the occasion by the European Commission, at an event that began around 3 PM. After half an hour of initial presentation, Cáceres’ representatives answered questions posed by the experts for an hour.
The Mayor of Cáceres, Rafa Mateos, explained that “Cáceres has all the necessary ingredients to be a European Capital of Culture,” and to that end, he defended today “a serious, thoroughly developed project that includes planning, investment, and participation.” He added that it has been designed “from the bottom up and with the support of all institutions,” as the Consortium includes, in addition to the City Council itself, the Regional Government of Extremadura and the Provincial Councils of Cáceres and Badajoz.
For her part, the General Coordinator of Cáceres European Capital of Culture 2031, Iris Jugo, stated that in their presentation, the Cáceres team “very honestly showed who we are.” Furthermore, she expressed being “very proud” of the work done, as “it has become clear that we are prepared and also that there is still time to continue growing, because significant work has been done, but it is only the beginning of this process.”
The project was presented by a delegation of 10 people, led by the Mayor and Iris Jugo, as well as the local Councillor for Culture, Jorge Suárez. Also participating were Sandra Guimarães, director of the Helga de Alvear Museum in Cáceres; Isabel Góngora, director of ONCE in Cáceres; Adrián Domínguez, artist and volunteer for Cáceres 2031; Rosa Estrella Ramos, economic advisor for the ‘Bidbook’; Antonio Lopes, curator and cultural manager collaborating with the project in its international dimension; Carlos Gago, project coordinator for the bid; and Marian Rosado, a member of the Cáceres 2031 Communication team.
The Committee of Experts will announce the list of cities moving to the next phase at a press conference on Friday, and the European Capital of Culture for 2031 will be designated throughout 2027.
PRESENTATION DETAILS
Within the framework of transcultura and transhumance, conceptual pillars of the bid, wool was one of the main protagonists of the presentation. In fact, the European experts were able to see and touch wool donated by Francisco Morgado Galet, one of the last transhumant shepherds of Extremadura, who will make his last ‘journey’ this year and whose wool reached Cáceres 2031 through the Alliance for Wool.
Morgado belongs to a family with five generations of shepherds and has been dedicated to shepherding for over 50 years. Each year, he performs transhumance with his flock of over 1,400 Merino sheep, covering a route that can reach 600 kilometers on foot.
Regarding the costumes, they were designed for the occasion by JM. Cruz, who created outfits inspired by European motifs as part of a new collection, Ixéu. According to the designer, this line “represents a new European identity, one that does not erase differences, but rather weaves them into a common thread.”
The project was presented by a delegation of 10 people, led by the Mayor of Cáceres, Rafael Mateos, along with the General Coordinator of Cáceres European Capital of Culture 2031, Iris Jugo, and the local Councillor for Culture, Jorge Suárez. Also participating were Rosa Estrella Ramos, economic advisor for the ‘Bidbook’; Antonio Lopes, curator and cultural manager collaborating with the project in its international dimension; Sandra Guimarães, director of the Helga de Alvear Museum in Cáceres; Isabel Góngora, director of ONCE in Cáceres; Adrián Domínguez, artist and volunteer for Cáceres 2031; Carlos Gago, project coordinator for the bid; and Marian Rosado, a member of the Cáceres 2031 Communication team. Laura García, responsible for the technical aspects and design of the presentation, also participated.
