From July 9 to 12, Les Cases d’Alcanar will once again focus on the fundamental role of women linked to the maritime world with the celebration of the fifth edition of ‘Les Cases: Dones i Mar’. This event has become a benchmark for preserving memory, recognizing the legacy of net-menders, and valuing the municipality's maritime cultural heritage.
This year's program combines cultural, educational, and participatory activities centered around the maritime tradition and the role of women who, for generations, have contributed to sustaining the life and economic activity of the town.
The central event will be ‘L’art de remendar’ (The Art of Mending), a live demonstration that highlights a traditional craft closely tied to the identity of Les Cases. This activity allows the public to learn firsthand about a task that for decades has been essential to the fishing sector and is part of the municipality's intangible heritage.
One of the main novelties of this edition will be the inauguration of the sculpture ‘Les Cases: Dones i Mar’. The artwork, shaped like a chair – an iconic element of the net-menders and a symbol of the event – is created to honor all women connected to the maritime world and will become a new identifying feature of the town.
“"Reaching the fifth edition is a testament to the consolidation of a project that was born to give visibility to the women of the sea and is now an essential event to recognize their contribution to our history and identity."
With the aim of passing on knowledge to future generations, the workshop ‘Aprèn a remendar’ (Learn to Mend) is being introduced. This initiative responds to the concern expressed by the net-menders themselves to share their expertise with those interested in discovering this traditional craft, thus contributing to the preservation of historical knowledge.
“"Les Cases: Dones i Mar is an event that values the human and cultural heritage of our municipality and helps us explain who we are and where we come from."
The mayor also highlighted that the inauguration of the new sculpture “represents a permanent recognition of all the women who have been a key part of our maritime town's history.” The 5th edition also incorporates new entities and collectives, reinforcing its participatory and community character.
