La Orotava's Street Youth Art Fair Celebrates 26th Edition
La Orotava's annual Street Youth Art Fair, a Canary Islands benchmark, will showcase over 500 young artists on October 18th and 19th with live music, art displays, and various performances.
Next weekend, the young artists of La Orotava will fill the town's streets and squares for the annual Street Youth Art Fair.
This year, the 26th edition, has some new surprises and will be held on Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. Saturday will focus on younger visitors, with live music, DJs, and other fun activities in the evening. On Sunday, over 500 young artists will showcase their talents directly on the streets.
The fair was announced on Monday, October 13th, at the Town Hall. Mayor Francisco Linares, Island Councillor for Youth Serafín Mesa, and Town Councillor for Youth Darío Afonso were all present.
Mayor Linares said he was proud that "this event is a first for the Canary Islands. We were the first town to support the creativity of our young people and give them a chance to show it off in public." He added that Street Youth Art began in 2000 when the town responded to a proposal from young performing artists who wanted to display their work outdoors. Over time, it has become a well-known event "where our youth can freely express themselves." Linares emphasized that many young people have gained valuable experience from the fair, using it as a stepping stone to become professional artists.
Councillor Serafín Mesa called the Street Youth Art Fair "the longest-running, one of the largest, and a benchmark in the Canary Islands." He said it's a unique way to support young people and give them a platform to showcase their skills. He also noted that supporting youth is a priority for the island institution, which is why they work with town councils like La Orotava to promote healthy activities.
Councillor Darío Afonso agreed, saying the fair "has grown significantly over the years, both in the number of young artists participating (over 500) and in public attendance, making it a resounding success every year."
Afonso explained that this year's fair will be different, with two days of events and different schedules. On Saturday the 18th, the event will be on Carrera Escultor Estévez street from 7 pm to 11 pm, featuring music, DJs, entertainment, and virtual reality. On Sunday the 19th, from 10 am to 3 pm, visitors can enjoy a variety of art forms, including music, painting, photography, dance, theatre, and graffiti. Stages will be set up on Avenida de Canarias, Calle Carrera Escultor Estévez, and Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The fair's poster was designed by Valeria María Expósito Francisco, the winner of a competition. She said she used bright colors to bring the poster to life and was inspired by all the different art forms featured in the event. According to her, the design "makes it clear that Street Youth Art is more than just an event. It's a gathering where different art forms come together to celebrate culture and showcase young talent."
Street Youth Art is organized by the Youth Department of La Orotava Town Council and supported by the Cabildo de Tenerife.