In Alicante, cultural and performing arts associations and professionals have stepped forward to defend universal access to culture. They criticized what they describe as a lack of political will, warning that without it, the province risks a significant cultural divide for its residents
Last May, after extensive discussions, these groups proposed the creation of the Alicante Cultural Network. They argued that the Provincial Assembly should establish the Alicante Province Cultural Consortium, a framework designed to bring cultural opportunities to every municipality and strengthen collaboration between the provinces and local governments. The network reflects a collective effort by the performing arts sector to widen culture’s reach across the region.
In this light, cultural associations shared their proposal with all political groups in the lead up to elections, presenting a preliminary plan that would embed stronger governance, practical utility, and efficiency within the Provincial Council’s cultural sphere. The vision supports a Provincial Cultural Consortium as a mechanism of cooperation and shared responsibility between the Provincial Assembly and the municipalities, mirroring arrangements in other provinces.
However, the signatories note that the response from the Provincial Council stood in stark contrast to the project. They assert that the plan would guarantee universal access to culture for every resident of Alicante. The Alicante Cultural Network has been developing since 2020, with its draft delivered to the former deputy responsible for culture, Julia Parra. At that time, the Provincial Performing Arts Festival was seen as a temporary measure to ease the pandemic’s impact on companies and cultural professionals.
According to the province’s cultural assets, the Alicante Provincial Council has committed to launching a touring exhibition program featuring local creators within a cooperative framework with the council and municipalities. The plan also envisions renovating and building cultural facilities and establishing a children’s theater production center to bring young people closer to the performing arts, echoing the model of the Escalante Theater Center managed by the Valencia Provincial Council for over four decades.
Yet the signatories argue that, after a meeting with Juan de Dios Navarro, the Council opted to reduce the budget for the Provincial Performing Arts Festival by as much as 15 percent, despite a 4 percent rise in the overall Culture budget within the Provincial Assembly compared with the prior year. They warn that music and performing arts professionals in the province will face a shortfall of €100,000 for their work, and citizens may see a notable decline in cultural offerings in their municipalities.
Theater professionals raise concerns about continuing the Writers’ Showcase
The sector also voices serious concerns about the perceived lack of recognition for cultural professionals within the provincial organization. They warn that a blurred line between professional and amateur sectors could jeopardize the quality of culture delivered to residents. From this perspective, there appears to be little political will to protect professional input that has historically shaped the field.
Looking ahead, the associations foresee a dimmer horizon for other commitments the Provincial Council has pledged. The Cultural Infrastructure Plan and the proposed children’s cultural production center seem unlikely to materialize. With the provincial consortium still in question, proponents say the Culture Deputy appears to be retreating from the initiative while the Provincial Secretariat initiates such discussions.
The declaration is backed by a broad coalition, including the Valencian Association of Cultural Professionals (GC Cultural Management), the Association of Dance Professionals of the Valencian Community (Apdcv), the Alicante State Theater Professionals Platform (ProTea), the Association of Actors and Actresses of the Country of Valencia (Aapv), the Valencian Association of Professional Distributors of Performing Arts and Music (Advaem), the Union of Valencian Dance Ensembles (Aved), the Association of Circus Professionals of the Valencian Community (Apccv), the Union of Valencian Theater and Circus Ensembles (Avetid), and the Stage Committee.