Canary Islands Mark 50th Anniversary of El Hierro Manifesto
The Canary Islands are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the El Hierro Manifesto on September 5th with a series of cultural events honoring the historic document's role in shaping the territory's identity and political autonomy.
The Canary Islands are preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of the El Hierro Manifesto on September 5th. According to the regional Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage, the milestone will serve as an opportunity to reflect on island identity and the future of the territory. The event aims to revisit the core questions raised during the Islands' political transition, a time when local intellectuals first challenged the prevailing development model and advocated for cultural uniqueness in the face of centralism.
The commemoration will take place on El Hierro and features a program that bridges historical memory with modern art. Events begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Cabildo exhibition hall in Valverde with the opening of Manifiesto 76/26. Curated by Dailo Barco, the exhibition treats the original 1976 document as a living piece of history, using it to spark a dialogue with contemporary art rather than simply displaying it as a static archive.
At 12:30 p.m., the focus shifts to the La Peña Auditorium. Poet Leopoldo Emperador, one of the original signatories, will read the manifesto that was first proclaimed at the Cruz de los Reyes in September 1976. That document—signed by prominent figures such as Martín Chirino, Manuel Padorno, Juan José Falcón Sanabria, and Tony Gallardo—was a bold declaration of the Islands' right to shape their own future. During the ceremony, the regional government will honor the surviving signatories and deliver an institutional statement.
The day concludes near the Monument to the Peasant, the iconic sculpture by Tony Gallardo known as El Arado (The Plow). At 2:00 p.m., dancer Virginia Arencibia and musician Samuel Aguilar will perform Huellas de hierro (Iron Traces), a piece commissioned for the anniversary. The event will close with musical performances and an official photograph, symbolizing the ongoing commitment to the cultural identity that, fifty years ago, inspired a group of thinkers to secure a distinct place for the Canary Islands on Spain’s social and political map.