Auditorio de Tenerife, AFES Launch 'Inclusive Culture' Program

The Auditorio de Tenerife and AFES Salud Mental have started a new program called "Inclusive Culture." Its aim is to ensure that people with mental health conditions can fully access and enjoy cultural activities. This project, backed by the Social and Health Care Institute (IASS) of the Cabildo, highlights a commitment to the idea that disability comes from barriers in society, not from the individual. It also recognizes culture as a vital part of being a citizen.

This program aligns with the General Law on the rights of people with disabilities, which aims to remove obstacles and promote full social inclusion. To achieve this, the Auditorio de Tenerife's Educational and Social Area, with expert help from AFES Salud Mental, has introduced "cultural mediation." This strategy helps people with mental health conditions participate in the Tenerife Opera season. The goal is not just for them to attend, but to create a welcoming space that celebrates diverse artistic experiences and ensures everyone can enjoy top-quality culture equally. This mediation helps people understand the operas better and appreciate their deeper meaning, making opera accessible to all.

The project is divided into three stages. The first stage happened on March 5, with a special meeting before the premiere of the opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod. During this session, people with mental health issues could get to know the opera's story and background in a comfortable, safe setting, even watching parts of the staging. The second stage involves the group attending the opera's premiere in the Symphonic Hall this coming Sunday, March 15, where they will share the experience with the general audience. Finally, the entire experience will be recorded for a new episode of Radio Himalia, a video podcast AFES Salud Mental has produced for ten years to raise mental health awareness and encourage a fairer, more inclusive society.

The program recognizes that opera performances, with their unique format, length, or sensory intensity, can sometimes be challenging for people with mental health conditions without proper support. To address this, the program has put in place several preventive measures. These include preparing participants in advance, providing information in easy-to-understand formats, and explaining the event's flow and venue layout beforehand. Importantly, attendees also have the option to leave the hall without any stigma, all part of the program's commitment to inclusive communication.