The Cajamar Foundation will be responsible for the cultural management of the emblematic Teatro Cervantes, located in the center of Almería, for a century. This agreement was formalized through a rental contract signed with the Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Almería this Monday, August 3rd, at the entity's library.
The primary objective of this agreement between the financial foundation and the Círculo is to ensure the preservation of the performance space's cultural use. Sources from the Círculo Mercantil e Industrial emphasized their commitment to "a solid entity that supports the development of the province of Almería and with which we share values and social goals".
The contract was signed by the president of the Cajamar Foundation, Roberto García Torrente, and by Francisco Balcázar Linares and José González Sánchez, president and vice-president of the Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Almería, respectively.
This signing marks the beginning of a new era for the Teatro Cervantes, after Kuver Producciones ceased managing its cultural activities last May. Both the theater and the Círculo are historical pillars of Almería's culture, representing a significant part of the Almerian society.
The Teatro Cervantes, inaugurated in 1921, has hosted performances by artists such as Imperio Argentina and events like the Juegos Florales and Semana Naval. It also served as a cinema and hosted galas for the Almería International Film Festival (FICAL). Its design, with a horseshoe-shaped auditorium, follows the Italian theater typology.
The building housing both the Cervantes and the Círculo was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2001. The Círculo Mercantil e Industrial, founded in 1889, established its permanent headquarters on the Paseo de Almería in 1921.
From its website, the Círculo Mercantil de Almería reaffirms its commitment to "continuing to be an open meeting place for the entire city." They add that, despite many being unaware of its interior, the Círculo has fulfilled its function as a meeting point for Almerian society since 1899.
