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Soraya Fernández · Photos: Photos: With consent of owner
A Brexit agreement could expedite its return, following the successes achieved between 2011 and 2015
The Spanish government intends to reopen a branch of the ‘Instituto Cervantes’ in Gibraltar. This was announced in September by the director of the Institute, Luis García Montero, who praised the results which it had previously achieved on the Rock and suggested that with Brexit “it would be very interesting from , diplomatic and cultural perspectives, to have a point of reference in Gibraltar”.
Indeed,during its four years of operation in Gibraltar the Instituto achieved remarkable standing and became a point of cultural reference for many Gibraltarians.
The Instituto was successful academically and culturally, and won the affection and recognition of Gibraltarians, many of whom were initially unsure as to its aims. In order to achieve a sense of trust, the organisation worked on a strictly professional basis, studiously avoiding any contentious matters.
The numbers speak for themselves. A total of 4,500 people registered for its courses, which must surely be a record for a new centre located on a territory of five square kilometres and with a population of just over 30,000.. Gibraltar´s children and young people accounted for more than 60% of its student body. Several prominent intellectuals made use of its facilities.. There were lectures and conferences, film presentations and clubs for fans of the ‘zarzuel’a and Spanish literature The common and shared history and culture of Spain and Gibraltar was strengthened.
Recovering Bilingualism
It is on the foundations laid down in the period up to 2015 that, the reopening of the Instituto has generated very positive expectations. The hope is that it will promote educational exchange programmes which would benefit bilingualism in Gibraltar, where the Spanish language has been in decline for many years.
According to the Instituto itself, there are three different age groups in Gibraltar with a very distinct linguistic profiles.
On the one hand, there is a large group of people over 50 years old who are fluent in Spanish. Those between 20 and 50, with a limited bilingual profile, and the last group of children and young people, who are monolingual in English and show little or no interest in communicating in Spanish.
It is in this field that the Instituto can provide that ability which so many Spaniards aspire to and Gibraltarians used to master, which is bilingualism.
Opening
The Instituto Cervantes opened its doors in Gibraltar on 4th April 2011 as a result of the Córdoba Agreements signed by the Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapaterotogether with the United Kingdom and Gibraltar via the Tripartite Forum of Dialogue
Market Lane
Gibraltarian businessman James Gaggero provided premises measuring 350 square meters on the second floor of his property at 10 Market Lane, which housed hosted the centre. The lease was for an initial term of five years, with a nominal annual rent of five pounds.
Francisco Oda
Francisco Oda has a PhD in Sociology and a is journalist born in La Línea de la Concepción. After the closure of the centre in Gibraltar he was transferred to the Instituto Cervantes centres in Manchester and Leeds, UK.
Political Backdrop
This cultural centre closed its doors in Gibraltar in 2015 for political reasons, when the Partido Popular then in Government in Madrid annulled the Córdoba Agreements.
