SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 26th Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Saturday, the Tenerife Fairgrounds witnessed the opening gala of the VII Tricontinental Crafts Fair, directed by Juan Carlos Armas, which is dedicated to Portugal this year. The gala showcased symphonic compositions, fados, fashion, and visuals celebrating Portuguese culture.
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, noted that the Fair serves as a meeting point between continents and their artisans, featuring nearly 250 exhibitors spread across 12,000 square metres. Additionally, she stated that it is “an event to honour all artisans from the Island and beyond.”
Rosa Dávila emphasised that this year’s Fair is dedicated to Portugal, “which not only enhances this edition but also strengthens our goal to cultivate cultural and commercial ties between Tenerife, the Canary Islands, and Portugal.”
In this regard, she stressed that the Cabildo would continue to work “with great enthusiasm” to expand boundaries within the crafts sector. She highlighted that around fifty artisans from various Portuguese regions “will enliven this fair, which promises to be a celebration of culture and heritage craftsmanship.”
The Minister of Employment and Education, Efraín Medina, attended the event alongside the Minister of Industry, Manuel Fernández; the Deputy Minister of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alfonso Cabello; the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez; the consul of Portugal, Vicente Álvarez; and other dignitaries.
Efraín Medina pointed out that it would be “an exciting fair with exceptional quality. Furthermore, it will be a ‘family fair’ featuring gastronomy, themed nights, outstanding music, live crafting, and much more.” He also stated that the Fair “has become one of the most significant at the regional level and one of the largest gatherings for foreign crafts marketing in Spain.”
José Manuel Bermúdez highlighted the significance of the Fair and the cultural influence of Portugal in the Canary Islands: “We will be able to enjoy all these connections through this tricontinental crafts fair, showcasing masters from diverse crafts. I wish to congratulate the entire Cabildo of Tenerife for their efforts.”
Alfonso Cabello remarked that if there was ever a time when the tricontinental aspect of Canarian culture makes sense, it is now. “Undoubtedly, a moment when our proximity to Africa is more relevant, and we must strive to see it as an opportunity, making the Canary Islands a meeting point for people rather than merely a site for humanitarian concern,” he added.
Vicente Álvarez expressed gratitude to the Cabildo of Tenerife for dedicating this year’s edition of the Tricontinental Crafts Fair to Portugal and described the setting as “incomparable, not just the Fairgrounds, but the entire decoration created for the occasion.”
‘AIRS OF PORTUGAL’.
The opening of the VII Tricontinental Fair was directed and presented by Juan Carlos Armas, featuring the group Las Candelas under the direction of Mauro Alonso Fariña, with their show ‘Aires de Portugal’, which presented exclusive musical arrangements for this event, alongside the special collaboration of José Félix Álvarez.
This performance marked the beginning of the Fair and the numerous musical acts that will be showcased. The inaugural event included the display of the costume that won the title of Carnival Queen in 2023, themed ‘Lisbon’, with designer Santi Castro responsible for the Fairground’s decoration, inspired by traditional Portuguese tiles.
This year’s seventh edition of the Fair celebrates another themed focus, this time on Portugal, a country with historical ties to the Canary Islands that has left numerous manifestations and influences on the islands, socially, culturally, and economically.
Additionally, the Fair will uphold its international focus, acting as a showcase for a diverse array of Ibero-American and African crafts, while also promoting European representation, including artisans from Tenerife and a representative sampling from the other islands.
Over the years, the Tricontinental Crafts Fair has developed into an intercultural bridge linking the peoples of Latin America, Africa, and southern Europe, serving as a vehicle for the promotion and dissemination of craft events occurring on both sides of the Atlantic.
In total, around 250 exhibitors will participate, with 72 being artisans from the Canary Islands, 150 arriving in Tenerife, of which approximately 40 are Portuguese artisans.
