Madrid City Council orders Casa Árabe to vacate Escuelas Aguirre

The Madrid City Council has set a deadline of September 1 for Casa Árabe to vacate the Escuelas Aguirre building, located on Calle Alcalá. The municipal government intends to recover the property to perform necessary rehabilitation and consolidation works, citing the building's state of conservation and the expiration of the temporary free-use agreement established in 2008.

Borja Carabante, the delegate for Urbanism, Environment, and Mobility, stated that the local government expects the departure to occur by the deadline. The council also indicated it is preparing an alternative plan in the event the institution does not hand over the premises. The decision follows changes in the consortium's composition, specifically the departure of the Community of Madrid.

In response, the platform 'Defensoras y Defensores de Casa Árabe' has organized a 'Festival of Resistance' at Puerta del Sol. The event features various artistic disciplines, including music, poetry, and dance, to advocate for the institution's continuity. Protesters argue that the building serves as a vital space for interculturality and diversity, and they reject the notion that necessary renovations must result in the institution's displacement.