The Mayor of Cieza, Tomás Rubio, and the Councilor for Museums, María Turpín, presented the program for International Museum Day, along with the heads of local institutions with museums and exhibition spaces in the town. The presentation was attended by the presidents of the Brotherhood of San Bartolomé, the Atalaya Ateneo de la Villa Club, the Board of Passion Brotherhoods of Cieza, and the Choirs and Dances of Cieza, Cristóbal Herrera, María Cano, Joaquín Gómez, and Jesús Saorín, respectively.
Turpín thanked the people who "made this extensive program of activities possible, whose theme this year is 'Museums for Education and Research', and the Siyâsa, as an integrating element of all these museums." For his part, the mayor encouraged the public to actively participate in the open day on May 17 and 18 at the Siyâsa Museum, Esparto Museum, Cieza Holy Week House-Museum, Folklore Center, the Hermitage of San Bartolomé and the Church of the Assumption.
The program will begin this Friday at 7:00 PM at the Siyâsa Museum, where Cartagena's official chronicler, Francisco José Franco, will give a lecture entitled "María Cegarra, Dreams of Crystal." The talk will be illustrated with paintings by Cieza-born artist Joaquina López Alarcón. That same evening, the Esparto and its Industry Interpretation Center will offer a guided tour, audiovisual screenings, a nighttime spinning demonstration led by master spinners, and a musical performance by the El Caracol Group, starting at 8:30 PM.
Games at the Siyâsa Museum
On Saturday, May 18, the Museum Day celebration will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a workshop on Roman and medieval games for children ages 6 to 12 at the Siyâsa Museum. An hour later, there will be a tour of the Balcón del Museo fortress tower led by Joaquín Salmerón, director of the Municipal Museum Service. In the afternoon, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the museum on San Sebastián Street will host a trumpet quartet concert by the Maestro Gómez Villa Conservatory.
Folklore Interpretation Center
That same evening, at 8:30 p.m., the Folklore Interpretation Center will host the performance "The Teacher's House," set in the early 19th century. Afterward, there will be a dance demonstration by the Cieza Choir and Dance Group.
Church of the Assumption and Saint Bartholomew
The bell tower of the Church of the Assumption will be open to visitors from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the Hermitage of San Bartolomé will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During the open day, the Brotherhood of San Bartolomé will exhibit several pieces from the sacristy exhibition space that have never been seen before.
Cieza Holy Week House Museum
And finally, the Cieza Holy Week Museum will offer a sensory route called "Passion, through the senses" to learn about our processions through the senses. Registration is required to enter in groups of 20-25 people. There will be four sessions: 8:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.
Source: Cieza City Council.