Por Redaccion The number 8 room of the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones hosted yesterday afternoon the first meeting of the Capitality Council, an entity that will oversee Oviedo’s candidacy to be the European Capital of Culture in 2031 and will meet every month with the members of the candidacy team, led by Rodolfo Sánchez as director; Pepe Mompeán as coordinator, and Natalia Álvarez Simó as artistic director. Oviedo’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2031 continues to gain support.
The capital council is composed of twenty-eight personalities from the cultural, knowledge, and economic sectors. Twenty-four participants attended yesterday’s meeting – twelve in person and the other twelve remotely – who gave their full support to the process that will experience one of its most important moments in June when the lines the team is working on are made public and the drafting of the seventy-page candidacy begins.
The Council is composed of:
Vanessa Gutiérrez, Minister of Culture.
Teresa Sanjurjo, Director of the Princess of Asturias Foundation.
Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ovejero, President of the Oviedo Opera.
Pilar Rubiera, Journalist and President of the Musical Foundation Ciudad de Oviedo.
Carlos López Otín, Biochemist, former professor at the University of Oviedo.
Alfonso Palacio, former director of the Museum of Fine Arts and deputy director of the Prado Museum.
David González, Executive Director of SEKUENS Agency.
Otilia Requejo, Director of the Church Museum.
Xosé Antón Fernández Riaño, Director of the Academy of Asturian Language.
Juaco López, Director of the People’s Museum of Asturias and People’s Asturias Photographic Library.
Martín López-Vega, Cervantes Institute.
Semíramis González, Art Curator.
Ricardo Menéndez Salmón, Writer.
Lucía García, former director of LABoral Centro de Arte, now director of IMAL Bruselas.
Iván Fernández Lobo, Video Game Expert.
Estrella García, Academic and Dance Entrepreneur.
Antonio Ripoll, Programmer and Theater Expert.
Berta Piñán, former Minister of Culture and Writer.
Sergio G. Sánchez, Director and Screenwriter.
Chus Neira, Journalist and Cultural Programmer.
José Manuel Ferreira, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce.
Lisardo Lombardia, former director of the Interceltic Festival of Lorient.
Reyes Ceñal Rodríguez, Director of Compromiso Asturias XXI.
María Pilar García Cuetos, Vice Chancellor of University Extension.
Jorge Fernández León, Cultural Manager.
Monserrat López Moro, Councilor of Culture of Gijón.
Yolanda Alonso, Councilor of Culture of Avilés.
David Álvarez Menéndez, Councilor of Culture of Oviedo.
At the end of the meeting, the artistic director, Natalia Álvarez Simó, argued that «this candidacy aims to involve citizens throughout the territory. Until June, we will not make public the lines we are working on because this is a competition with other cities.» The candidacy director, Rodolfo Sánchez, has announced: «This month the call for the four sectorial tables is planned, which will take place in Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés, and another municipality in the rural area that is yet to be defined.» Also, «the team that will be part of the candidacy is being finalized. So far, a dozen people have been appointed, and it is expected that the maximum will be fourteen.» Additionally, a participation process with 400 cultural and social agents organized in dialogue tables is already underway to shape the candidacy.
The director of the candidacy, Rodolfo Sánchez, has announced: «This month, the call for the four sectoral tables is scheduled, which will be held in Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés, and another rural council that is yet to be defined.» Additionally, «the team that will be part of the candidacy is being finalized. So far, a dozen people have already been appointed, and it is expected that the maximum will be fourteen.»
On the other hand, a participation process is already underway with 400 cultural and social agents organized in dialogue tables to shape the candidacy.