About the past and our vision of future

Last week, we had the opportunity to examine the results of works in buildings making up Cau Ferrat and Maricel Museums once refurbishment was over. We were aware that we would find cozy spaces that preserved legacy elements, but adapted to the needs of the twenty-first century. But even so, the surprise was overwhelming and gratifying. All the work done in museums was magnificent, and they have insured facilities geared up for the future while preserving the past.

The reform and refurbishment of museums was quite a challenging project. Works proved to be difficult right from the onset. The uniqueness and location of buildings and the need to adapt to the current regulations (safety, removal of architectural barriers, installation of services ...) transformed the project in an intervention that required special care to preserve heritage.

For this reason, as soon as we won elections, the current government of the City of Sitges and Barcelona Provincial Council did not hesitate for a second to change the initial project. The initial project involved a blatant and outright aesthetic aggression against the buildings, both in the grotesque catwalk on the seafront as in the installation of interior platforms that disrupted the layout of buildings. The results of works show that it was technically feasible to remove such elements and achieve environmentally friendly buildings that were not an aggression to our legacy.

The restoration of stained glass and ceramics, the recovery of the original paintings at the Cau, the refurbishment of Saló Gran, or Great Hall, the improvement of services and facilities, the establishment of a historical route or the creation of new spaces (like the exhibition hall, the training classroom or the museum shop), among many other elements, highlight the extraordinary work carried out in this project.

Once works were over, the three buildings known as Cau Ferrat, Can Rocamora and Museu de Maricel will have to install air conditioning before the reincorporation of works and collections. We must be very strict in such interventions and abide conservation policies applied by the Museums of Sitges.

Museums are one of the most important legacies of Sitges. Collections exhibited and stored are remarkable important, and the buildings are privileged store windows for our city. The refurbishment will allow and encourage the preservation of buildings and works and at the same time, create a new magnet for visitors. The museum discourse and the intensive program performed by the Consortium team, under the drive of Vinyet Panyella, will be a significant support for this purpose. The first step was achieved, fully equipped buildings that respect our heritage, and to achieve the latter we will keep on working vigorously.

Social policies are a top priority for this City Council

One of the core ideas of our Governance Plan and one of the top priorities of this government team is what we dubbed "Sitges for the people," a broad line of policies revolving around social policies. Last week, we launched new initiatives at the Municipal Plenary related with such policies, such as a change in credit to make an extra contribution to Caritas and Red Cross for their projects to supply food to the needy.

This action is part of the package "Sitges for the people" promoted by the local government team and allowed the implementation of several initiatives aimed at supporting people and groups most in need: the "Carnet Blau" or Blue Card ( which provides discounts to the needy on certain services, both public and private), the Soup Kitchen (included in the Blue Card and that everyday provides food to people who do not have sufficient resources), or agreements and bill payment arrears with Third Sector organizations (the improvement and change in the system of our Treasury Department allowed payment of invoices of social organizations that had not been scheduled or budgeted by the previous government).

These are some of the activities in social policies aimed at the most vulnerable. But the core of "Sitges for the people" is designed to reach a broad segment of the population that suffered the most for the crisis, provoked mainly by revenue reductions, budget cuts and limitation of opportunities. This policy is aimed at people that are directly affected by poverty and also people affected negatively by the current crisis.

For this reason, we have driven a socioeconomic revitalization plan for entrepreneurs through the services of Nivell 10; measures to promote employment; aids to nursery users; a contract to ensure the activities of the "Casal de la Gent Gran" or Senior Home, which, with the demise of the bank charged with patronage was in serious risk of disappearance...among other actions.

The crisis has taken its toll on many people. A lot. Also in Sitges. For this reason, social policies are a top priority for this City Government. In some cases, such as those just mentioned, we are dealing with specific policies and initiatives, in other cases are actions that require utmost discretion and respect for those affected, but this is also the reason for our involvement. And will continue to be a priority.