The Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that this week marks the start of a fortnight of programming by the Consell de Formentera to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the island's government. Ana Juan, Consell president, said the programme was designed to be a "popular celebration", as well as to "acknowledge the efforts of individuals who have dedicated part of their lives to serving the community".

Thursday 20 October at the Sala de Cultura (Cinema), the opening event includes two round tables. At 7.00pm, past mayors of the island will join moderator Pepo Rubio for "Governing on Formentera: the previous 39 years". At 8.30pm, Toni Ruiz will moderate a round table with representatives of associations and social agents on "Transformation and conservation: Formentera's present".

Community celebration on Friday with concerts and barbecue
The next event will take place in Plaça de la Constitució at 8.30pm, Friday. The evening starts with a concert in which Aires Formenterencs, Paquita Juan (from Can Jaume Porrosines), Paquita Juan (Paquita des Brolls), Luis Xomeu Juan, Tamara García, Cani Huertas, Sergi Gómez and Ermanno Panta tap into local heritage and celebrate the ties between the music of three cultures in the people of Formentera: traditional music, flamenco and Sicilian music.

At 10.00pm there will be a popular barbecue and then, around 11.00pm, a group of local musicians will perform an array of genres including funk, rock and Latin. Among the players are Genis Campillo, Mariano Menteguiaga, Nuno Alves and Pierra Alain, with other alternating musicians each bringing a change of musical style to the ensemble.

The Three Kings Association, the Santa Maria Festival Commission, the local chapter of Obra Cultural Balear and the Formentera Residents' Association as well as representatives of the local business sector and the island's Moroccan community are among the entities in Formentera's fabric of associations that either organised and took active roles hosting these events.

Commemorative T-shirts for charitable purposes
Throughout the various activities of the programme, commemorative bicentennial T-shirts will be sold to support Formenterers Solidaris. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the association.

24 and 27 October
The commemorative events will continue next week. Monday 24 October at Sala d'Exposicions "Ajuntament Vell". A look at the history of the island's government, with photographs of municipal buildings, photos, objects and documents (baton, municipal books, electoral rolls, budgets, etc.) and Thursday 27 October at 8.30pm, a commemorative concert of contemporary music and dance/movement at Sala de Cultura (Cinema). Works composed by Hugh Levick will be interpreted by musicians Mario Molina (piano), Catalina Sureda (violin) and Esteban Belinchón (cello); with interpretive movement performances from Valeria del Vecchio and Pablo Arias.

17 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera