Círculo de Bellas Artes de Tenerife Launches Strategy to Expand Reach of Canarian Artists

The Círculo de Bellas Artes de Tenerife’s recent appearance at the ARCOmadrid art fair marks a significant step in bringing the island’s creative scene to a wider audience. Led by Pepe Valladares, the organization used the event to launch a new strategy: moving beyond simple attendance to actively integrating Canarian artists into national markets and exhibition circuits.

A key part of this plan is hosting the first national meeting of Fine Arts Circles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. By bringing together similar institutions from Madrid and Mallorca, the Círculo hopes to decentralize cultural management and create a direct line of communication between the islands and the mainland’s art hubs. At the same time, the organization is rolling out its "New Circle" project, which aims to reshape the association into a professional engine that helps local artists grow through strategic partnerships.

The delegation also focused on supporting individual creators. During the fair, they highlighted the success of artists like Estefanía B. Flores, who has moved to the El Chico gallery following her work with the Círculo, and Jesús H. Verano, who is being represented by gallerist Raquel Ponce. The team also visited the Madrid branch of Galería Artizar to view work by Julio Blancas, who will soon debut new pieces as part of the Círculo’s centenary celebrations.

This effort was backed by the Fundación CajaCanarias, whose first-time appearance as an exhibitor at ARCOmadrid highlights the value of public-private partnerships in the arts. Looking forward, the Círculo plans to host a sectoral forum in the Canary Islands. The goal is to build a permanent support system that helps local talent overcome geographical barriers, ensuring that Canarian art remains visible and supported long after the fair ends.