CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR The Instituto de Estudios Campogibraltareños (IECG, or Institute for Campo de Gibraltar Studies) was born on April 5, 1991. Twenty years ago a group of local researchers came together to volunteer their cooperation to study the history of the area. There are more than 200 members today, many of whom will be at the several lectures of the eighteenth edition of the History & Archaeological Workshops at Jimena de la Frontera. At various times and places the institute has organized workshops on history, on flora & fauna, on archaeology and Prehistory and on literature - all related to the Campo and Gibraltar. The institute's magazine Almoraima (photo of cover for number 16, about the Siege of Gibraltar), which contained the results of these and many other investigations and the workshops, was published on paper for 37 editions. However, financial constraints have meant that the magazine has not been published since 2007. A digital version of the workshop contents continues to be issued, nevertheless.>There are some names that stand out over those twenty years. The IEGC's first President was Luis Alberto del Castillo, from 1993 to 1996. During that time were organized the first flora workshops, the archival ones in San Roque, the botanical counterparts in Castellar and up to the fourth on History in Los Barrrios.
The first of the Hiostory Workshops, organized by Mancomunidad de Municipios in 1990 were so successful that they gave birth to the IECG. "That was time for opening up things about the are," recall Castillo. It was also when political will came together with culture - and served as a vehicle for closer contact with Gibraltar, an essential element in the history and development under study. In fact, the IECG's logo contains eight stars: seven for the seven municipalities that belong to the Campo, and one more for the Rock.
The firsst elections were held in 1992. Until then everyone was acooperating member. "José Carracao played an important part at the beginning, together with Antonio Palacios," says of two politicians, Carracao being President of Mancomunidad at the time. There was even a grant from the Junta for €48,000. "A time of plenty," says Castillo with some irony.
Almoraima magazine became the flagship, the most visible part of the enterprise, but it began to struggle towards the end of Castillo's mandate, when the grant was removed coinciding with political change. "We do not ride in anyone's field," he says about local politics.
But the magazine had by then become very successful, and is still available at several universities in Spain, the British Library and the Congressional Library in Washington.
Carracao was the political arm of the project. The man who had been Mayor of Jimena and is now a senior Senator in Madrid offered much support. "We had a lot of support," says Castilla, "and the social repercussion was impressive.
Carracao himself says that the venture was recognized as valuable even by political opponents: "They all knew there was no political agenda involved." All the directors and section heads had complete autonomy, and the standard was set very high, which Carracao believes is still so.
The second Director was Mario Ocaña, who lead the IECG for three mandates. He instituted some thirty study workshops in many specialities, thus putting into shape a continuity that is still present today. He also brought together History and Patrimony as a single force, as well as seeing the move from the original headquarters at Villa Smith to the Chamber of Commerce. During his directorship, Ocaña expanded the field of study related to the Straits.
The first of the Hiostory Workshops, organized by Mancomunidad de Municipios in 1990 were so successful that they gave birth to the IECG. "That was time for opening up things about the are," recall Castillo. It was also when political will came together with culture - and served as a vehicle for closer contact with Gibraltar, an essential element in the history and development under study. In fact, the IECG's logo contains eight stars: seven for the seven municipalities that belong to the Campo, and one more for the Rock.
The firsst elections were held in 1992. Until then everyone was acooperating member. "José Carracao played an important part at the beginning, together with Antonio Palacios," says of two politicians, Carracao being President of Mancomunidad at the time. There was even a grant from the Junta for €48,000. "A time of plenty," says Castillo with some irony.
Almoraima magazine became the flagship, the most visible part of the enterprise, but it began to struggle towards the end of Castillo's mandate, when the grant was removed coinciding with political change. "We do not ride in anyone's field," he says about local politics.
But the magazine had by then become very successful, and is still available at several universities in Spain, the British Library and the Congressional Library in Washington.
Carracao was the political arm of the project. The man who had been Mayor of Jimena and is now a senior Senator in Madrid offered much support. "We had a lot of support," says Castilla, "and the social repercussion was impressive.
Carracao himself says that the venture was recognized as valuable even by political opponents: "They all knew there was no political agenda involved." All the directors and section heads had complete autonomy, and the standard was set very high, which Carracao believes is still so.
The second Director was Mario Ocaña, who lead the IECG for three mandates. He instituted some thirty study workshops in many specialities, thus putting into shape a continuity that is still present today. He also brought together History and Patrimony as a single force, as well as seeing the move from the original headquarters at Villa Smith to the Chamber of Commerce. During his directorship, Ocaña expanded the field of study related to the Straits.
Two names that will be known to many of our readers, José Regueira the official historian of Jimena, and Hamo Sassoon, archaeologist and long time resident of Jimena, in whose memory a tribute will be given at the History & Archaeology Workshops next weekend. Both of them were keen early members of the Instituto.
Ángel Sáez has headed the Instituto since 2009. He is very sad that this period saw the end of the expensive paper edition of Almoraima, of which only two of the six planned were printed. Nevertheless, over 15,000 pages speak exceedingly well of the Campo de Gibraltar's interest in culture. That is very much alive.
Ángel Sáez has headed the Instituto since 2009. He is very sad that this period saw the end of the expensive paper edition of Almoraima, of which only two of the six planned were printed. Nevertheless, over 15,000 pages speak exceedingly well of the Campo de Gibraltar's interest in culture. That is very much alive.
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