The city councilor for Culture in Alicante, Nayma Beldjilali, advances a framework agreement on cultural cooperation with the City of Madrid. She has already held an initial meeting with Madrid’s culture counselor, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, with the aim of launching a series of joint actions in this field. The conversation focused on creating a structured partnership that could underpin collaborative efforts across multiple cultural initiatives in the near future.
In this first exchange, the two councilors agreed to keep dialogues open to shape a broad collaboration framework. This would enable several lines of activity, ranging from exchanges or loans of exhibitions to programs designed to promote reading and to strengthen cultural activities city by city. The agreed approach emphasizes practical, community-facing projects meant to engage residents, visitors, and students in meaningful cultural experiences.
The Alicante representative expressed enthusiasm about certain collections currently on display in Madrid and suggested that some of these works could be hosted in Alicante. She noted that Madrid and Alicante stand close in many respects and expressed a desire to deepen these ties to share cultural initiatives beyond the borders of each city. She also highlighted the willingness of Marta Rivera de la Cruz to bolster institutional relations with the Alicante City Council and her openness to reach agreements and develop proposals that benefit both municipalities.
The collaboration between Alicante and Madrid has already intensified in areas such as tourism, where Madrid represents a major market for Alicante. Indeed, the mayors of both cities announced at a recent tourism fair a plan to boost travel between the capitals by leveraging increased high-speed rail connectivity. The expansion comes with new operators entering the market, expanding options alongside existing services, and complements the established offerings operated by rail providers. This broader connectivity underpins opportunities for joint tourism campaigns, cultural itineraries, and shared promotional efforts that highlight the unique strengths of both cities.
Officials from both administrations emphasize that growth in cultural exchange can act as a catalyst for broader regional cooperation. By coordinating exhibition calendars, library programs, and community access initiatives, Madrid and Alicante aim to create a model of bilateral cultural diplomacy that benefits local artists, educators, and audiences. The focus remains on practical outcomes—exhibition loans, shared curatorial projects, and literacy-driven outreach—that can scale to other municipalities across the region and even beyond national borders.
As discussions advance, representatives stress the importance of transparency, shared governance, and measurable impact. The framework would establish clear lines of responsibility, timelines, and evaluation milestones to ensure the collaboration translates into tangible cultural value for residents. The dialogue also recognizes the potential for student exchanges, cross-border artist residencies, and joint cataloging of collections to enhance academic and public access to cultural resources in both cities.
Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate a resilient cultural ecosystem that leverages Madrid’s and Alicante’s complementary strengths. Madrid’s large-scale institutions and global visibility pair with Alicante’s vibrant local scene and maritime heritage to offer audiences richer experiences and more diverse offerings. The ongoing conversations are framed as a stepping stone toward a long-term partnership that can inspire similar alliances with other Spanish and European cities, reinforcing the region’s cultural economy while preserving accessibility and inclusivity for all who seek cultural engagement.