Back to Three Cultures': summer cinema, poetry and open-air concerts mark the return of face-to-face activity at the Foundation from 23 June

The Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation is preparing to open its doors to the public again, after being forced to cancel all its face-to-face programming in mid-March as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. At that time, the events planned at its headquarters and other spaces were replaced by online activities (more than 60 between recitals from home, cinema, conferences, training, legal advice for immigrants, book club, proposals for children, etc.). But, since the de-escalation began and cultural activity was activated in museums and other cultural centers, the Foundation's team began to organize itself with a new objective: to feel again the applause of the public in its headquarters.

This is how 'De vuelta a Tres Culturas' (Back to Three Cultures) came about, a special programme that will mark the return to what has been called the "new normality" as of 23 June. On that day, the Foundation's projectors will be turned on again to resume the 'Tuesdays at the cinema' in an exceptional setting, the Andalusian Gardens of the Hassan II Pavilion, where every Tuesday at 10 pm there will be a summer cinema. Moreover, given the special circumstances we have gone through in recent months, the Foundation will not close in August as usual, but during this period there will also be a film screening.

To this end, the Foundation staff is currently working on the adaptation of this space according to the prevention and distance indications established in the de-climbing, so that in addition to the stalls, the public will also have tables for dinner, as an ambiguous service will be offered. In total, according to the estimates of the Three Cultures team, there will be a capacity of 190 people.

The screenings will be opened with Tiempo después, the latest film by José Luis Cuerda, thus paying tribute to the creator of the Amanecer movement, who recently passed away. There will also be films by other Spanish directors such as Fernando Colomo (Antes de la quema), Santiago Segura (Sin rodeos), Javier Ruiz Caldera (Superlópez), Javier Amboris and Javier Calvo (La llamada) and by the directors Marta Díaz (Mi querida cofradía) or Inés de León (¿Qué te juegas?), among others. All of these productions are comedies of national renown, which will be joined by other features of the same genre from different countries that have received good reviews and have been very well received by audiences: Mohamed Hamidi's The Cow, John Goldsmid's The Best Recipe and Louis Julien Petit's The Invisibles.

There will also be a place for literature in this programme with a recital of sung poetry by two Andalusian cantaurores: Lucía Sócam and Juan Luis Pineda. On Thursday the 25th of June at 9 pm, we will be able to attend 'Dos del Sur', a beautiful proposal with which they pay tribute to the great authors of all times, while addressing issues such as freedoms, women's dignity, the defence of the most disadvantaged and the union of peoples around the world in universal values.

The high point of the programme will come in July, when, along with the Tuesday cinema, concerts will be organised in this same space every Thursday, with open-air musical evenings entitled 'The Thousand and One Musics' (10:00 pm). This is a series of five concerts designed to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in an environment of singular beauty, a journey around the world based on different musical styles (flamenco, boleros, bossa nova, African rhythms...), which delves into the mix and enrichment through diversity.

The musician and anthropologist Raúl González Quiñones, an internationally renowned artist, will open this cycle on 2 July. This producer, composer, guitar player and creator of Tres Flamenco has shared the stage with performers of the highest level, from Chavela Vargas, Compay Segundo, Jackson Browne, Enrique Morente, Javier Ruibal, Jorge Drexler, Raimundo and Rafael Amador, Javier Barón, Arcángel, Rocío Molina, Miguel Poveda, Mayte Martín, Luz Casal or his mother, the singer Martirio. 

From 2003 to 2008, he was part of the group Son de la Frontera, performing in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Havana, Miami, Mexico City, Montreal, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Stockholm, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, the Jerez Flamenco Festival, the Seville Biennial and the Gazpacho de Morón, among many others. His second work with this group, CAL, also won several awards and was nominated for 'Best Flamenco Album' at the 2007 GRAMMY Awards. In 2008 he left the group and, now as a solo artist, has published two record books: Razón de Son (2014) and La Raíz Eléctrica (2017), while continuing to collaborate with performers from all over the world and participate in interesting musical projects.

All the activities will be free of charge and will have a limited capacity, so it is recommended that the public arrive at the venue half an hour before they begin. In addition, spectators will have to comply with the safety standards defined by the health authorities (mask, distance, avoidance of contact...) and their temperature will be taken before entering each activity".

José Manuel Cervera, director of the Fundación Tres Culturas said that "this is an extremely high quality programme that brings together two types of events that have been a sign of identity of this foundation since its inception: film and music. The novelty, although sometimes we have had acts outside, is that this cycle is developed entirely in the Andalusian Gardens for two reasons: Firstly, because in this way we can guarantee that we will reach the maximum number of people possible, despite the restrictions defined by the security rules that we all have to follow and which would have weighed us down even more inside; and secondly, because this year we will be spending the whole summer with our public, whom we have missed so much during this time, and we wanted our cultural offerings to be adapted to the summer period, when the outdoor proposals are enjoyed more.

Cervera has pointed out that "it is true that adapting all this outdoor space requires a great effort, logistically and economically, but from the Fundación Tres Culturas we wanted to do it not only to meet again with the public that has been loyal to this institution for more than twenty years, but also as a clear commitment to the Andalusian cultural sector, with artists and companies in the field that work in our land and now, more than ever, they need those of us who have been working with them for so long to be able to tuck them in to overcome this hard time". "The reconstruction of the economic and social fabric and the mitigation of the damage caused by the epidemic is everyone's task. And this programme, which fills us with enthusiasm, is our first contribution to this collective effort", concluded the director.