Canary Islands commemorate 50 years of the El Hierro Manifesto

The Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of El Hierro held commemorations on September 5 to mark the 50th anniversary of the El Hierro Manifesto. Originally drafted by a group of artists, poets, and intellectuals during the Spanish Transition in 1976, the document serves as a significant cultural reference regarding the identity, territory, and future of the archipelago.

Events included the opening of the ‘Manifiesto 76/26’ exhibition, curated by Dailo Barco, which explores the relationship between the 1976 event and contemporary art. The commemorations also featured musical and dance performances at the Monumento al Campesino, the site where the manifesto was first read by politician Aurelio Ayala.

Migdalia Machín, the Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation, and Culture, emphasized the document's enduring relevance, stating that the spirit of the manifesto helps in understanding the Canary Islands. Additionally, the Cabildo of El Hierro has begun procedures to declare the Monumento al Campesino, featuring Tony Gallardo’s sculpture ‘El arado’, as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC).