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With help of new plaque, Formentera remembers when ‘Constitution Square’ was ‘Republic Square’

foto 2021 constitucio BTop Consell de Formentera official Alejandra Ferrer and heritage chief Raquel Guasch were on hand today as a plaque went up to commemorate the rechristening, ninety years ago today, of Sant Francesc’s Plaça de la Constitució. On 14 April 1931, six weeks after proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, decision-makers at the local plenary assembly agreed to change ‘Plaça de la Constitució’ to ‘Plaça de la República’.

Today, municipal archivists and the Formentera Department of Heritage have uncovered meeting minutes from 1931 in which members of the municipal council approved the renaming.

President Ferrer believes the Second Republic-era document can shed light on an important chapter of Formentera’s past. She described it as “a curious and thrilling find from a hugely significant period for democratic and social growth. On Formentera in particular, islanders hailed improvements in education and progress towards a more egalitarian society, and agitated for a government not subordinate to power holders on Eivissa. Trade unions and local civic organisations of the day were extremely active as well. We hope the efforts of our archivists keep illuminating the secrets of our past. It’s crucial we continue to recuperate this historical memory”.

Councillor Guasch said the moment underscores the “values, the true pillars of democracy —freedom, justice, equality, education and secularism— that permeated the Second Republic”. She insisted, “We must remember the historical moment when the aspiration for modernity was cut short by a coup, war and dictatorship under Franco”. And Guasch praised “the recent work by the archivists that resurfaced this document”, and highlighted a fragment now available for viewing.

Name change
The rebranding had been proposed by a man named Pedro Juan Ferrer. A sailor and a member of the Aliança Republicana party, Juan was Formentera’s first deputy mayor when the republican town council was formed on 19 April 1931. (The island’s mayor was Joan Colomar Escandell.) Self-taught in the systems of thought and anarchist praxis of social organisation, Juan was described by teacher Vicent “Blai” Serra Ferrer as one of the “authentic anarchists”.

“Plaça de la Constitució” had been so baptised in 1812. On 14 August of that year, a royal decree set out that “the main square of all the towns in Spain henceforth be called ‘Plaza de la Constitución’”. The designation appears in assorted documents until 19 May 1931, when the square became ‘Plaça de la República’ until the end of the Spanish civil war. Accounts of the new name under Franco are elusive, although some documents do refer to a “Plaza de la Iglesia”. In 1981, at a full-house gathering of Formentera’s municipal authority, socialist councillors led a successful push for “a commemorative plaque in the Sant Francesc square reading ‘Plaça de sa Constitució’, the plaza’s name for many years now”.


4 June 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

From 7 June, music returns to Formentera plazas with ‘Música a les Places’

cartell 2021 musica a les placesEarlier today the Formentera Department of Culture and Festivals unveiled the summer 2021 programme for Música a les Places (Music in the Squares). In a renewed push to reactivate a crisis-hit sector and fresh off the initiative’s warm reception last year, organisers have put together a Covid-safe slate of concerts in the squares of es Pujols and Sant Francesc and on the promenade in la Savina. From world music and Latin tunes to blues, soul, rock, heavy metal and jazz, an array of musical genres will guarantee a lively mood.

Culture and festivities chief Susana Labrador explained, “The premise remains the same: cultural happenings, concerts, summer nights, islanders, tourists and public, outdoor spaces. The idea is to make music a natural part of the leisure time of Formentera’s summer crowd”. Similar to last year and barring additional rule changes, concerts will have limited capacity and audience members must stay seated and keep a safe distance.

La Savina
La Savina is in for yet another musical summer with Els Dilluns al Port (Mondays at the Port). 7 June to 27 September, live musical performances will liven up the marina promenade from 10.00pm.

Es Pujols
Starting 15 June and continuing till 21 September, Tuesday nights at 10.00pm, es Pujols’ Plaça d’Europa will welcome Música en Viu (Live Music), with acts booked by Formentera Musical.

On Thursdays the very same plaza will play host to World Music, including a performance from Música a les Places veteran, Antena Libre. Performances will start at 10.00pm and run 17 June to 21 October, except during a break in August.

Sant Francesc
19 June to 25 September, get ready a Saturday-night classic in Sant Francesc: 10.00pm performances by Formentera’s most beloved jazz outfit.

Collaborators
Música a les Places’ returning collaborators include Jazz & Co, Formentera Musical, Antena Libre, La Savina Neighbourhood Association, Balearic Port Authority and, considering a recently renewed partnership with the Consell, Estrella Galicia. Local government salutes Estrella Galicia for its longstanding support for musical and cultural initiatives in our country.


3 June 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Casal de Joves announces June calendar

foto 2021 juny casalThe Formentera Department of Youth is pleased to announce the calendar of events this June at the Casal de Joves, a bill whose standout features include two special activities for fiction and comic fans. The first comes Friday the 4th, as youth at the drop-in centre are invited to face off in the manga-inspired collectible card game YU-GI-OH. And on Friday the 11th the focus on Japan continues with a fancy dress session in the tradition of “cosplay”, a subculture whose members dress up as manga, anime and video game characters.

On Saturday the 12th island youth can join an outing to Eivissa to go karting! (Space is limited; signups at the Casal de Joves.) On Wednesday the 16th and Friday the 18th, we’ll host DIY workshops to build planters — part of the new decorations at the Casal.

Participants in a Friday the 25th workshop on artistic creation will learn how to do paper marbling, and on Saturday the 26th it’s an afternoon of skateboarding.

Cinema sessions on Wednesday the 23rd and 30th will centre on experiences of refugees. An additional screening will take place on the 2nd, and on Wednesday the 9th youth can catch a film about the environment on World Environment Day (5 June). Vanessa Parellada highlighted the programme’s diversity and “the Casal’s historic emphasis on current affairs that can shape awareness about sustainability and inequalities, among others”.

Social media
Something to say? Share posts on the Casal de Joves’ social media accounts. The theme on Saturday the 5th is the menstrual cycle. On Saturday the 19th the first beach photographs will be shared!

And lastly, dance class participants will meet at the usual time: Tuesday to Friday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.


2 June 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Educational push: recreational fishermen must report catches from es Freus reserve

cartell 2021 dprThe Formentera Fisheries Inspection Service, with help from custodians at es Freus marine reserve of Eivissa-Formentera and Punta de sa Creu, has launched an outreach campaign to inform seafaring recreational fishermen that from this year, all catches made in the reserve must be reported.

As with the rest of the marine reserves in the Balearics, catches can be reported by filling out a form on paper or with Diari de Pesca Recreativa — a smart-phone app devised by the Balearic Directorate General of Fisheries and Marine Environment in a bid to improve management of marine resources and monitor and evaluate recreational fishing in the region.

The app is a useful and intuitive tool which provides key insight about minimum sizes, protected species, places fishing is permitted and marine reserves. The Consell’s inspection office describes DPR as “the most appropriate system for sending and receiving information about catches”.

The app also gives users an easy way to report catches made in Balearic marine reserves, though paper declarations will be maintained for individuals like the elderly with access issues.

DPR is available for download at Google Play or the Apple Store. To access the app’s captures (catches) section, fishermen must fill out this online form on the Govern balear website.

2 June 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Early registration at Escola de Música i Dansa

foto 2021 preinscripcio escola de musica i dansaThe Formentera Department of Education is pleased to report that islanders keen to begin studies at the Escola de Música i Dansa de Formentera (Formentera School of Music and Dance, EMDF) can now complete early registration, while returning students can re-enrol from today. Applications will be accepted via the OVAC until 22 June.

EMDF staff will phone incoming students in September to complete the registration process or schedule an entrance exam, as the case may be.

For inquiries, contact escolamusica@conselldeformentera.cat or visit the EMDF website.

Education and culture chief Susana Labrador urged islanders to take advantage of music and dance classes she described as “educational and fun”. A video produced by local government and spotlighting the EMDF’s instructional offering will also be shared on social media.

The following courses will be offered:

Music (accredited; 8 and up)
Instruments: transverse flute, guitar, piano, trumpet and clarinet.

Music (non-accredited; 8 and up)
Instruments: transverse flute, piccolo, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, bass saxhorn and tuba.

Traditional music workshop (4 and up)
Local folk instruments: tambour, castanets and flute. Four levels: Initiation I and II and Continuation I and II.

Initiation to music (5-8 years old)
A first look at instruments and basic music theory through songs and games... for children aged 5 to 8.

Professional-track self-study
Based on student needs (students must submit proof of completion of elementary-level course from an accredited music school or conservatory).

Folk guitar workshop
Learn how to accompany other musicians with chords.

Formentera Polyphonic Choir
Free activity for all those interested in music regardless of previous schooling. Ninety minutes per week.

Music band
Mainly wind instruments. Course consists of one weekly group lesson by instrument, one weekly lesson of targeted music theory (barring previous studies) and a one-hour band rehearsal.

Accredited dance studies (8 and up)
Four-year elementary dance programmes centred on classical dance, danza española or music.

Non-accredited dance studies
-Modern dance
-Initiation to dance (3-8 years old)
-Flamenco workshop

Course offering may change based on 2021-2022 public health measures pending approval by the Balearic ministry of education and vocational training.

1 June 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

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