Casimiro Curbelo
The heritage of an island constitutes a shared responsibility between those who receive it and those who will inherit it. In La Gomera we know that our identity is recognized in the landscapes, in the traditions, in the memory of our elders and in the wisdom that has allowed generations of Gomeros to live with their territory, from the protection that requires knowing it, understanding it and keeping it alive.
With that conviction we will host the V Congress of Museums of the Canary Islands from November 19 to 21. This meeting represents an opportunity to place our island at the center of a necessary reflection. Open the door to debate how museums should contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the conservation of heritage in a rapidly changing society.
Holding this congress in La Gomera has a special meaning, because we believe that the Canary Islands should build their cultural policies from all the islands, listening to their different realities and guaranteeing that access to culture does not depend on the place of residence. An obvious example is that small museums and interpretation centers provide an essential experience due to their proximity to the population and their connection with the daily history of our towns.
On our island, natural and cultural heritage are deeply related, from the landscapes that preserve the imprint of the work of those who lived there, to the traditional trades that explain the use of resources. Without forgetting the oral memory that transmits ways of understanding and caring for the environment. This relationship is visible in spaces such as the interpretation centers of Miel de Palma, in Alojera, and Queso y el Pastoreo, in Alajeró, which have joined the network of centers and museums of La Gomera.
Disseminating this heritage is also helping to protect it. When a person understands the value of a landscape, a piece or a tradition, they have more reasons to get involved in its conservation. But this task also requires research, documentation, professionals and continuity in public action. The responsibility of the institutions is to give this work the support it needs.
Therefore, this congress should help us share experiences, strengthen cooperation and bring museums closer to citizens, especially the younger generations. It must also recognize those who guard knowledge and memories in our towns.
Taking into account that the value of our museums is expressed in what they teach, in what they preserve and in the links they create with their closest environment. Your contribution to the development of the island must be based on respect for the territory and the conservation of what makes us unique.
From La Gomera we understand this event as an opportunity to reinforce that collective commitment and on this path I appreciate the commitment of the general director of Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands, Miguel Ángel Clavijo. La Gomera has a lot to contribute to the future of the museums of the Canary Islands and a lot to learn from shared work.
