- “This project confirms that our city is a cultural hub in our country, driving forward the bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031,” said the mayor.
The mayor of Cáceres, Rafa Mateos, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Fundación MAPFRE, the Regional Government of Extremadura and the Diocese of Coria-Cáceres, under which the city will host Fundación MAPFRE’s Iberian Network. This is an “ambitious and pivotal project for Cáceres and Extremadura, representing an estimated investment of 7 million euros and confirming the city’s status as a cultural hub”, explained Mateos.
In addition to the mayor, the agreement was signed by the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, María Guardiola, the President of Fundación MAPFRE, Antonio Huertas, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Coria-Cáceres, Jesús Pulido.
Mateos emphasised that this agreement is the result of “many months of discreet and meticulous work”, and expressed his gratitude for the involvement of all the participating institutions, as well as the Mapfre Foundation’s commitment to Cáceres.
The Fundación MAPFRE Iberian Network will be located in the very heart of the historic city centre, specifically in Plaza de San Jorge, within the Church of San Francisco Javier and its adjoining building, which will help to “breathe new life” into this iconic site.
Mateos emphasised that this project will help revitalise the area within the city walls through cultural, educational and social initiatives, including exhibitions, concerts and activities linked to the foundations that make up this network in Spain and Portugal.
A BOOST FOR THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE IN 2031
The mayor has pointed out that the arrival of the Iberian Network forms part of the city’s strategy linked to Cáceres’ bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031 and coincides with the 40th anniversary of Cáceres’ designation as a World Heritage City.
“Cáceres still has a lot to offer the world, and this project shows that we are capable of thinking big and turning those ideas into reality,” concluded Mateos.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REACH
As explained by Antonio Huertas, President of Fundación MAPFRE, this project will make it possible to “showcase the cultural offerings of the foundations within the foundation’s Iberian Network and turn Cáceres into a hub connecting cultural institutions in Spain and Portugal”.
MAPFRE is thus opening its third office in Cáceres, following those in Madrid and Barcelona. “The Cáceres office will complement the other two, operating at the same level but with a different focus,” he said.
Huertas explained that the space will feature open temporary exhibition galleries, as well as museums, meeting rooms and a collaborative workspace for organisations that form part of the network. This space will enable foundations to develop joint projects, share resources and make use of infrastructure and technology to broaden the scope of their cultural activities.
He also emphasised that the initiative will help to enhance Cáceres’s cultural profile, linking it with other venues and national and international cultural circuits, and helping to consolidate its role as a leading city in the cultural sphere.
