News

Formentera accepts critiques of Citizen's Information Office

Friday, 03 August 2018 12:43

Foto oac atencio al public The Formentera Council accepts the PSOE's critique of wait times at the OAC (in August users of the municipal service reported waits of up to an hour) and wishes to make the corresponding apologies to islanders and local political parties. Reprieve is expected in the days to come, when additional staffers will begin duty. The administration began a search for temporary supply staff on June 7. A total of 51 islanders answered the call, with 17 ultimately making it to the selection process, which came to an end on Wednesday, August 1. Officials anticipate names of winning candidates will be announced on Monday August 6. While thanking islanders for the patience and understanding, the Formentera Council also wishes to applaud OAC staff for their professionalism. Reinforcements are on the way.

As for the office's digital equivalent, the Virtual Citizen's Information Office (or OVAC), no incidents have been reported in thirty days.

Time for holidays, maintenance as Formentera's vehicle inspection service takes annual leave

Friday, 03 August 2018 12:12

foto-itv-formentera1 The Formentera Council announces that the island's vehicle inspection service (ITV) will cease operations for the month from August 15 to September 15. The break means time off for staff and a chance to take care of certain maintenance around the facility. Employees alternated morning and afternoon shifts from April to July, leaving the service without a single name on its wait list as employees prepare to clock off for the holidays.

'Undersea Formentera' promises islanders savings on scuba diving

Thursday, 02 August 2018 15:46

foto busseig 2018 1.jpg

The Formentera Council's acting chairperson, Susana Labrador, put her signature today on partnership agreements with two diving centres, Formentera Divers and Vellmari, concerning an initiative, “Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ ("Discover Formentera, under the sea"), to give island residents discounted tuition on diving courses. On hand at the signing ceremonies were the directors of the two diving schools and Formentera's sport secretary Jordi Vidal.

This year the Council will put up eight thousand euros, a thousand more than last year, to be split evenly between the two schools. The money will underwrite another year of discounts on diving lessons, between 40 and 60 per cent depending on whether the course is for first-time divers, beginners or experienced divers.

“Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ is about encouraging islanders to dive recreationally, explained Labrador, who added that “scuba diving is a fantastic way to discover this undersea paradise that surrounds us“ and spoke about the importance of “getting people tuned in to the importance of protecting posidonia meadows and the fauna that they support“. Vidal, for his part, said the new Centre d'Esports Nàutics, or “Nautical Sport Centre“, “is part of an effort to promote scuba diving even after the summer season, a time when the island's seasonal workers can take advantage of savings on instruction“.

In more than a decade since “Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ has been in place, more than eight hundred islanders have taken up scuba diving. Last year's course catalogue included 37 courses for first-timers, roughly 15 for beginners and another 25 for returning divers.

Formentera publishes retrospective of Ajuntament Vell gallery's featured shows

Friday, 03 August 2018 12:06

foto cataleg 2018 2.jpg The Formentera Council's culture department has unveiled a look-back at the work displayed in the Ajuntament Vell exhibition space throughout 2017. The department says the current catalogue –of individual exhibitions, group productions, selections of art from associations and social-action organisations– offers readers "a glimpse of the artistry which has graced Formentera's signature gallery". Artists and other cultural advocates on the island had agitated expressly for such a retrospective.

Cutting across the assorted selections of painted work, sculptures, photography, architecture and craft creations is a leitmotiv of deep ties to Formentera, and the jumping-off point they provide for looking at and deciphering the world around us.

Take, for instance, the paintings and illustrations of Rocio Fraile, Aida Miró, Ana Celada, Robert Hawkins, Elena Montesinos, Julie Aubrun; collages by Jorge Traverso, and paintings and jewellery from Raquel Caramazana and Gustavo Fernández Molinari, of Amaicha.

Photos hold a place in the spotlight, too, as evidenced with the catalogue's chronicling of the now classic Beni Trutmann contest, Espai F_'s display of work by photographer Jordi Sarrà and the abstract images of Fabiana Schulz.

On International Women's Day the Sala housed selected submissions to a photography contest focused on breastfeeding on Eivissa and Formentera. Isa Sanz, for her part, would later put on a photo show commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Then there was the gallery's initiative with Fons Pitiús de Cooperació to present photographer Alex Oriol's reckoning on the Syrian exodus.

Sala selections are uniquely diverse affairs, as seen with a Manolo de Oya (Espai F_)-commissioned installation by Michel Mouffe, a multimedia exhibition by Wolff Kahlen, textile creations by Antonieta Airoldi, tapistries and paintings by Lia Bottanelli, Es Far's group show and La primera pedra, an exhibition brokered by Maria Bofill, Pau Sureda, the Museu Arqueològic d'Eivissa i Formentera and Formentera's office of patrimony.

The Ajuntament Vell was also the scene of a show on language diversity presented by the island's committee for language normalisation and students of IES Marc Ferrer, as well as work from Teresa Matilla's students of painting and the workworking disciples of Aaron Keydar.

At year's end, the gallery welcomed another instant classic – a Christmas exhibition showcasing the work of several breakout local artists.

The Ajuntament Vell, operated by the Formentera Department of Culture, Education and Patrimony and today boasting a nearly twenty-year history of temporary shows throughout the year, is aimed at promoting and stimulating artistic expression.

4 August 2018
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Care centre users get eyeful of posidonia

Wednesday, 01 August 2018 17:11

foto busseig centre de dia 3.jpg Nine individuals receiving care at the island's dependent care facility, together with three monitors and a host of personnel from Formentera Divers, headed to the sea today to get a closeup look at meadows of posidonia sea grass.

The outing included a boat ride through ses Salines park, a swim in es Freus marine reserve and, for all those who rose to the challenge, snorkeling over posidonia meadows, an experience that came with sightings of numerous fish and native underwater species.

The experience lasted a full day and offered users of Formentera's Centre de Dia the chance to take in neighbouring underwater surroundings. The event was organised by the Council's social welfare office and Formentera Divers diving centre.