The mayor of Valencia, the popular María José Catalá, has proposed turning Valencia and Madrid into "a first-rate cultural hub." A cultural version of the so-called axis of prosperity that in the times of José María Aznar advocated by the regional presidents of Madrid, the Community and the Balearic Islands. The mayor continues to seek synergies with Madrid, exploiting the good relationship she maintains with Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, as well as her own.
During his visit to the capital of Spain to participate in the commemorative event of the centenary of the death of Joaquín Sorolla, Catalá announced that “Madrid and València are going to work to create a first-rate cultural axis, taking advantage of the cultural and artistic ties that they have.” “They unite as the best way to unite both cities.”
“Let's turn Valencia-Madrid into a first-rate cultural hub. Let's unite our two cities for culture. Let's share initiatives and let's bring the talent that exists in our cities to the people of Valencia and Madrid,” the mayor declared.
Catalá made these statements together with the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who has announced that Sorolla will be named the city's adopted son. “Joaquín Sorolla will be the adopted son of the city of Madrid as a way of recognizing, honoring and culminating this centenary and because there is no more international adoptive Valencian or Madrid native who has known how to better capture what unites both cities,” Almeida stated. According to the mayor of Madrid, “culture is one of the main threads that Madrid and Valencia share and, within culture, there is no one who represents both better than Sorolla.”
Along these lines, Catalá has insisted on his idea: “Madrid and València are united by many things, among others by talent and art. One of those threads that unite us is Sorolla, the master of light, the one who knew how to show the Mediterranean essence of Valencia like no one else, and proclaim to the world the excellence of our artistic creativity. “València was the birthplace of Sorolla, but Madrid was also his home.” “Whenever we talk about the Valencia-Madrid relationship, we talk in economic terms, as axes of prosperity, but with this act today it shows that our ties are not only economic. They are also cultural and artistic ties,” he noted.
“València, in addition to being a land of painters, is also a land with a wide range of artistic manifestations in which the love of music also stands out. And music can and should be another thread that unites our cities,” he concluded.
