The island of La Palma has achieved a significant milestone in cultural policy and educational research by participating in the VII International Congress of Heritage Education (CIEP 7), held in Seville under the theme 'Territories, governance and heritage education'. The congress featured the rehabilitation project for Casa Massieu in Llano de Argual.
Miriam Perestelo, the island's Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage, highlighted that this is the first time a project specifically initiated from La Palma has been included in the official programme of this international meeting, with independent technical presentation. The focus was on the Saccharum Project: 'Habitar el cubo vacío. Artistic mediation and heritage literacy in the pre-museum phase of Casa Massieu'.
This initiative, promoted by the Cabildo de La Palma through the public company SODEPAL, was selected by the congress's scientific committee in Line 3, which addresses Museums, Mediation, and Social Inclusion.
Perestelo noted that the International Congress of Heritage Education is the leading scientific event in Spain and Latin America concerning didactics, mediation, and cultural inclusion. The seventh edition was co-organised by the Spanish Heritage Education Observatory (OEPE), the Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain (IPCE) under the Ministry of Culture, the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH), the Department of Educational Development and Vocational Training of the Andalusian Government, and the International University of Andalusia (UNIA), with support from institutions such as the University of Valladolid, the University of the Basque Country, and ICOM Spain.
During the technical presentation at the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage in Seville, SODEPAL technician María José Viña showcased the public management model and critical mediation developed at Casa Massieu. She illustrated how innovative pedagogical tools and artistic mediation can activate historical heritage, transforming island heritage spaces into vibrant centres of social cohesion and community participation.
The success of the Saccharum Project lies in its ability to forge real connections with the territory and the classrooms of La Palma. With this achievement at CIEP 7, the Cabildo de La Palma and SODEPAL reinforce their position at the forefront of public cultural management, demonstrating that artistic mediation in spaces like Casa Massieu serves as a methodological reference recognised in the most demanding international settings.
This project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent work and economic growth.
