The first phase of submissions for the Contribuye (“Contribute”) program—part of the preparation calendar for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s European Capital of Culture 2031 bid, Rebellion of Geography—has concluded with an extraordinary outcome: more than 200 projects submitted by cultural agents from the Canary Islands, the rest of Spain, and abroad via the online form at www.rebeliondelageografia.com.

The opencall, which remained active for several months, invited artists, collectives, and institutions to imagine how culture can transform the city and project from the Atlantic a new sense of belonging to Europe. This participatory approach—enhanced by online information sessions (webinars) that attracted attendees from across the archipelago and various parts of mainland Spain—allowed participants to explore the conceptual and methodological foundations of the bid: its European scope, inclusive vocation, and the cultural strategy guiding the Rebellion of Geography project.

The strong response to the call highlights the vitality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s cultural and creative ecosystem—locally, nationally, and across Europe—and reflects the shared desire to be part of a bid that envisions culture as a collective, diverse, and territorially connected process.

The proposals received are currently being reviewed by the various working groups of the LPGC’31 technical office. Many of these initiatives will take shape as part of the Bid Book—the official proposal to be presented before the European jury during the first quarter of 2026.

The opencall will reopen for new rounds of submissions and collaborations throughout the next phases of the process, continuing to build a cultural community committed to the city’s and the archipelago’s future. Beyond the competition for the European Capital of Culture title, this initiative aims to evolve into a long-term cultural transformation project for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria over the coming decade.

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