Cultural Twinning between Jerez de la Frontera and the Island Region of Gozo

Abstract

Inclusion and equality, particularly in aspects such as gender, ethnicity, race, and the immigrant population, are areas that require improvement to advance toward a fairer society. Countries like Spain and Malta, with the Mediterranean Sea as a natural border of Europe, play a central role in addressing these issues and challenges. Culture is one of the key drivers for promoting equality among these groups. The fact that both countries are candidates for the European Capitals of Culture in 2031 - with the island of Gozo in Malta and the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain submitting their candidacies - and having significant immigrant populations (especially in Malta), Roma communities (particularly in Jerez de la Frontera), and facing social and labour discrimination against women supports the twinning of these two places. This twinning aims to ensure that inclusion and equality criteria become decisive factors when the selection committee chooses the European Capitals of Culture for this year.

Through this project, two institutions of great impact, the 'Asociación Cultural Ateneo de Jerez' in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) and the 'Gozo Regional Council' of Gozo (Malta), will work through culture to promote the inclusion of groups such as Roma women and the immigrant population. They will share their experiences and reflections by organizing two Cultural Inclusion Events, one in each country, which both associations will collaborate on and offer to the citizens of both communities.

The general objective of the project is to promote cultural twinning between Gozo and Jerez de la Frontera as part of their bid for the European Capital of Culture 2031, with a focus on gender equality, the empowerment of immigrant and Roma women, and the social integration of immigrants through culture. 

Given that both places are candidates for the European Capital of Culture in 2031 for their respective countries, this project aims to advance the integration, through culture, of groups that suffer discrimination. The central focus of the project is to promote the inclusion of groups such as immigrants and Roma. Jerez de la Frontera can offer its experience related to the Roma community, specifically regarding women, primarily through the artistic expression of flamenco (but not only), where they play a significant role, while Gozo can contribute its experience with the immigrant population namely of Asian, African, Arab and Hispanic origins (NSO Statistics Office 2021), whose percentage has significantly increased in recent years.

Why this project?

The twinning between Jerez de la Frontera, in southern Spain, and Victoria, the capital of the island of Gozo, stems from a deep desire to strengthen cultural, social, and economic cooperation between two Mediterranean cities with unique identities and shared values.

Jerez, the birthplace of flamenco and the wine that bears its name, is also a benchmark in the preservation and promotion of Roma culture, integrating its traditions and art into the daily rhythm of the city with a model of social integration unique in the world. Victoria, with its iconic Citadel and vibrant community life, is a place where history and modernity coexist, and where a growing migrant population brings new cultural and human expressions.

This twinning is born out of the desire to promote joint projects that include festivals, workshops, educational exchanges, and inclusive actions, fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual respect. Both cities see culture not only as an artistic expression but as an essential tool for social cohesion, equality, and the inclusion of two communities that share historical and contemporary values and essence.

The Ateneo of Jerez and Gozo Regional Council have developed a joint twinning project within the Town Twinning (CERV) call funded by the European Union, with the support of the City Council of Jerez de la Frontera, the City Council of Rabat Cittá -Victoria, and the Ministry of National Heritage, Arts, and Local Government of Malta.

As a result of this alliance and its spirit of openness, considering that in 2031 Victoria and Jerez have applied as candidates for European Capitals of Culture for their respective countries, a title we hope they could share, this twinning of Jerez and Victoria represents fundamental support for these candidacies and is born with the ambition to project to the world a diverse, creative, and inclusive Europe.