At the centre of an exhibition of photos set to open at 6.00pm on Monday 11 October are the lives of human beings and their relationship with the cosmos.

Dubbed “A collection of contemporary art II. Fotografies”, the show is booked until 23 October at “Ajuntament Vell” municipal gallery.

The second in a series of exhibitions from the Catalina Verdera collection, its forerunner was a close-up on the legacy of the pictorial work of Erwin Broner. The focus of the first show was sculpture; the driving force of the second is photography.

Thirteen artists feature among the works, a decidedly eclectic selection which takes a wandering journey across assorted approaches to the photographic discipline, from unartistic portraiture to conceptual works which leverage photography as a means to an end.

The exhibition is in itself a compilation of stories, reflections and political stands.

There is a common thread that starts with the universe, our relationship with the cosmos, the origin of life, and proceeds into philosophical, anthropological and social fields. Additional featured works speak to the lives of human beings, and the show is supplemented by photographs of architecture and spaces.

Trampolí Mecànic presents the exhibition in association with the Consell de Formentera and Ràdio Illa. It was curated by Manolo Oya.

7 October 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Equality and LGTBI Affairs has commissioned the island's first strategy "to elucidate the realities facing the local LGTBIQA+ community and develop initiatives that promote equality and non-discrimination for its members", explained President Alejandra Ferrer.

In big picture terms, Councillor Vanessa Parellada said the plan was about "taking the temperature of the LGTBI community on the island and propose public policies and measures to mainstream sexual and gender diversity and thus collaborate in promoting equality and non-discrimination".

Two consultants have been tapped to help prepare the plan: one is from Interferències, an association which specialises in gender and LGTBI policies and feminist research from an intersectional perspective; and the other, also a specialist in gender, from Filosa, which works to educate and train assorted local stakeholders. Technical directors of offices of municipal government will coordinate efforts and facilitate local contacts. Researcher and feminist social worker Alba Pons Rabasa, who holds a Ph.D. in social anthropology, will be at the helm of the initiative.

Preparing the plan

An initial scheduling and planning meeting was held 13 September. Otherwise, the first associated action will take place at the Casal de Joves from 6.00pm on 18 October. That gathering will see formation of the steering committee to assist in drafting.

Work on the plan will bring together various actors, including government agencies, associations and islanders at large. From these key areas, efforts will focus on determining what conditions are necessary to ensure real and effective equality in the exercise of LGTBI people's rights, the goal being to prevent, correct and eliminate discrimination in the public and private spheres over which the Consell de Formentera and other local authorities have jurisdiction.

Parties interested in helping prepare the plan, whether members of the LGTBI community or not, can send an email to igualtat@conselldeformentera.cat and register to join the steering committee.

6 October 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera