The Talayotic Menorca Agency is now fully functional as of today, 21 September, following the convening of the Governing Council, the highest decision-making body of the organisation responsible for the management, conservation and dissemination of the resources that make up the Talayotic Menorca nomination. The founding meeting was held this morning in the plenary chamber of the Consell Insular de Menorca, chaired by the vice-chairman and conseller of Cultural Affairs, Miquel Àngel Maria.
Following on from the creation in July of the Social Council and the Governing Council, the organisational structure of the agency is now complete, pending the appointment of its director. The public tender specifications for the selection of this new position at the Talayotic Menorca Agency will be published over the coming weeks.
The conseller of Cultural Affairs stated that despite the lack of clear news from UNESCO as to the dates of the World Heritage Committee, the Consell Insular de Menorca is already working at full capacity on the proposed management system. "In practical terms, from the management perspective we are already operating as a World Heritage site. All that is missing is the formal declaration," the conseller of Cultural Affairs asserted.
The founding meeting involved all members of the Governing Council:
- Chair of the Talayotic Menorca Agency: Miquel Àngel Maria Ballester, conseller of Cultural Affairs and Education of the Consell Insular de Menorca.
- Vice-chair: Raquel Marquès Díez, island director of Cultural Affairs and Heritage.
- Héctor Pons Riudavets, mayor of Maó, primary member, representing the Committee of Presidents of Local Corporations of Menorca.
- Concha Juanola Pons, deputy mayor of Maó for Cultural Affairs and Environment, substitute member, representing the Committee of Presidents of Local Corporations of Menorca.
- Catalina Solivellas Rotger, director-general for Cultural Affairs, primary member, representing the conselleria of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
- Catalina Ferrando Ballester, head of the department of Cultural Affairs, substitute member, representing the conselleria of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
- Carmen Cabrera, head of the UNESCO World Heritage Conventions area, primary member, representing the Ministry of Culture of the Spanish Government.
- Laura de Miguel Riera, head of the World Heritage service, substitute member, representing the Ministry of Culture of the Spanish Government.
- Verónica Llufriu, primary member, island director for territorial regulation of the CIM.
- Mateu Martínez Martínez, substitute member, territorial regulation technician of the CIM.
- Francisca Teixidor Lozano, primary member, island director for tourism regulation of the CIM.
- Fernando Pons Juanico, substitute member, tourism regulation technician of the CIM.
- Irene Estaun Clarisó, primary member, director of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve.
- Félix de Pablo Pons, substitute member, technician of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve.
- José Simón Gornés Hachero, primary member, head of the CIM historical heritage service.
- Joaquin Pons Machado, substitute member, archaeologist of the CIM historical heritage service.
- Elena Costa Coll, primary member, director of the Foment del Turisme de Menorca Foundation.
- Francina Cardona Moll, substitute member, technician of the Foment del Turisme de Menorca Foundation.
- Marta Jordi Vidal, primary member, scientific coordinator of the IME.
- Antoni Ferrer Rotger, substitute member, head of the History and Archaeology section of the IME.
- Joana Gual Cerdó, primary member, representative of the Scientific Council of the Talayotic Menorca Agency.
- Cipriano Marín Cabrera, primary member, coordinator of the Talayotic Menorca nomination, representing the Scientific Council of the Talayotic Menorca Agency.
- Bernat Pons Pons, primary member, owner of Talatí de Dalt, representing the Social Council of the Talayotic Menorca Agency.
- Montserrat Anglada Fontestad, primary member, archaeologist, representing the Social Council of the Talayotic Menorca Agency.
Scientific and Social Council
On 4 July the
Scientific Council was created at a meeting held at the Institut Menorquí d’Estudis (IME). This council, made up of institutions and individuals of established standing, has the task of scheduling and supervising the agency's activities in the field of study, research, education and scientific outreach. It is also involved in preparing reports for UNESCO, and offers advice on matters within its responsibility.
Subsequently, on 7 July another of the key elements of the organisational structure of the TM Agency was set up: the
Social Council. The meeting was held behind closed doors in the plenary chamber of the CIM, attended by representatives of the island's different political parties, business and cultural organisations. This council is required on to facilitate integration and participation by all the island's public authorities and the leading public, private and social organisations in the sphere of historical and cultural heritage management. Participation by society and citizens plays a central role in this function.
The TM Agency
The agency is responsible for the management, conservation and dissemination of the resources that make up the Talayotic Menorca UNESCO World Heritage nomination, so as to ensure they are passed on to present and future generations of Menorca's citizens. The CIM set up the Talayotic Menorca Agency
on the recommendations of the report submitted in 2017 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites).
This new body coordinates the effective implementation of the Talayotic Menorca Management Plan, while also drawing up and submitting proposals to the different CIM bodies, helping to
manage, conserve and publicise the values of the archaeological monuments and associated landscape, and fostering participation and social cooperation focused on conserving our prehistoric heritage. The agency's other aims also include driving the sustainable development of archaeological and landscape heritage and promoting scientific research, while furthermore encouraging public and private investment.