The subdelegate of the Government in Lugo, Isabel Rodríguez, today exemplified in the Fonsagrada “the commitment of the Government of Spain with the municipalism, with the small municipalities, in short, with the rural. Allocating resources to projects like this that are a before and an after for the people, offering a new service to neighbors, and fighting the demographic challenge.” The subdelegate stressed that thanks to the funds of the Recovery Plan the City Council will carry out the future Museum of Antonio Fraguas, “Forges”, with which A Fonsagrada recognizes this graphic artist so linked to the town. This is an aid of 183,000 euros from the Local PIREP Program, managed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.
The deputy delegate, who participated this morning in the presentation day of the museum center, congratulated the mayor of A Fonsagrada, Carlos López, and his government team, “for promoting this beautiful project, which reflects the sensitivity and affection of the fonsgraines to Forges, and with which the citizens will gain a new space for the cultural dynamization of the town.” “Thanks to your effort, determination and good work, A Fonsagrada will have the first center in all of Spain dedicated exclusively to the great cartoonist,” he added.
Likewise, Isabel Rodríguez thanked the generosity of the family of Antonio Fraguas for giving up part of the artist’s collection, from vignettes, photographs, books, feathers and furniture, among other objects. “Una/Una parte de su legado, testimonio histórico e inimitable de nuestro país”, apuntó.
In this sense, the subdelegate recognized that Forges “was a character who was part of all of us, entering our houses with his unforgettable cartoons, telling how nobody the Spanish reality and the feeling of the population, in a simple, ironic and subtle way, but charged with criticism and deep reflection.”
In his speech, he said that this new cultural center will be a real revulsive for tourism and the economy of this area of the Lucense Mountain. “A/An opportunity for tourists to come to the Fonsagrada and get to know its unique landscapes, its gastronomy, its customs and, above all, the hospitality of its people,” said Isabel Rodríguez.
“As the teacher said in one of his cartoons: “A Fonsagrada a grano oblidada”. Today we are taking another step to reverse this situation, claiming this region of the Lucense mountain”, he concluded.
In addition to the deputy delegate and the mayor, the children of Forges, Berta, Antonio and Micaela also participated; the director of the Provincial Museum of Lugo, Aurelia Balseiro; the president of the Comarcal Museum of A Fonsagrada, Xoan Xosé Molina; and the architects of the project, Adrián López and Daniel Gómez, as well as numerous neighbors.
Planned actions in the building
The building will house not only the cultural center of Forges with cartoons, drawings, photographs, books and different material of the acclaimed graphic artist, but also a new Tourist Office, an event room and different spaces for municipal uses. For this, with the funds of the Government, the City of A Fonsagrada will carry out works of consolidation and reinforcement of the structure of the building, endowment of thermal insulation and renovation of the carpentry. The most important intervention will be carried out in the back of the building, where the historic courtyard will be recovered, with an active system of environmental control through the implementation of a patio greenhouse that allows the regulation of the entrance of light and ventilation. In addition, the old diesel boiler will be replaced by a combined photovoltaic and biomass boiler system. The work must be completed before the end of September 2024.