Spanish Cooperation Cultural Centres
103
Cultural Centre of Spain in Tegucigalpa
The Cultural Centre of Spain in Tegucigalpa (CCST) opened its doors in 2007, and so it has already accumulated a significant history in Honduras, where its contributions to the promotion of Spanish and Ibero-American culture and creativity and to development are widely acknowledged. Society recognises the CCST as a modern centre dedicated to the creation and dissemination of avant-garde cultural expressions. Furthermore, it is a focal point for the cultural dynamics of the region, for the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, and for the construction of a more inclusive and sustainable society. The Honduran socio-political and cultural reality determines CCST’s strategic approaches and main lines of action. In common with other countries in Central America, Honduras presents certain characteristics that have a special influence on the development of its society and culture. These include aspects such as ethnic diversity – the country has a significant indigenous and African-descendant population, and hence presents linguistic and cultural diversity; other relevant questions include the lack of public safety, which affects the daily lives of many people; the migratory phenomenon and the country’s geographical configuration itself, at the midpoint between the Southern Cone and North America; the unstructured nature of the cultural sector; and the lack of access to and consumption of cultural products by a broad range of society. In this context, the arrival of the CCST in the Honduran cultural scene represented a dynamic new approach, raising the profile of these issues and generating change. The Centre, very noticeably, offered an open, pluralist space, with a regularlychanging programme of events, open to all, in which special emphasis was placed on the promotion of creativity and on enabling access to culture for the new generations. The Centre organised over 400
activities each year, thus encouraging local artistic processes. Its membership of an international group of Cultural Centres, under the aegis of Spanish Cooperation, has helped the CCST construct an important network of contacts dedicated to cultural and social collaboration. In addition, it maintains a healthy relationship with local institutions and works with government agencies in relevant areas, including the Executive Directorate for Culture and Arts, the Ministry of Education and the National Directorate for Indigenous Peoples and African Hondurans. Thanks to its less institutional profile and its greater proximity to the work carried out by the third sector, the CCST is able to work very closely with cultural actors at all levels, and very specially with the Committee of Cultural Centres, which represents the main cultural agents of Tegucigalpa. The CCST cooperates in the implementation of public policies in the institutional area, especially in the field of culture and public involvement. In this respect, important work has been done in the historic centre of the capital and in other Honduran municipalities, via the project Más Allá del Centro (Beyond the Centre). Spanish Cooperation has traditionally been very active in providing training for specialists in the field of cultural management, both in the public sector and in private entities, and in Honduras the CCST has maintained this pattern of contribution. Training courses are regularly given with and for Honduran cultural actors, either in matters related directly to cultural management, or in those which are necessary to achieve greater social inclusion and to create a society that fairer and more environmentally sustainable. Since the CCST opened, it has offered a valuable showcase for local creativity in fruitful coexistence with artistic offerings from Spain and
