The Minister of Culture has presided this year’s first plenary session of the Patronato de la Alhambra

Paulino Plata, the Minister of Culture of the Autonomous Government of Andalusia, have presided this morning in the Palace of Charles V this year’s first plenary session of the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife. During the session, the budgetary report and the liquidation for 2009 have been approved, together with the 2010 Plan of action and budget, estimated at € 22,976,224. The Members of the Board have been informed about the opening of the Monumental Complex for collaboration and cooperation purposes with numerous professional groups and public and private institutions, like the Ministry of Culture, the European Union, laCaixa, American Express Funds and World Monument Fund (WMF).
Among the principal actions that the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife will undertake during the present fiscal year, the following achievements are outstanding: the completion of the restoration works on the Fountain of the Lions and the adaptation of the Court of the Palace of the Lions; the review of the Special Protection Plan (PEPRI) for the Alhambra and Alijares; the implementation of the Comprehensive Security Program for the Monument and the call for ideas to the “Alhambra Atrium” Project.
Regarding the 2010 culture program, special attention has been paid by the Minister of Culture to the exhibition Matisse and the Alhambra 1910-2010, planned to be inaugurated this October, as well as to the course dedicated to the 25 anniversary of the management of the Alhambra by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia, organized in collaboration with the Centro Mediterraneo of the University of Granada. The minister has also announced the presentation in the next days of the display called Court of the Palace of the Lions, with part of the patrimonial acquisitions made in the last 25 years, since the Spanish state transferred the competence over the management of the Monument to the Autonomous Government of Andalusia. Paulino Plata has also confirmed that the 1st January 2011, coinciding with the aforementioned anniversary, the Patronato de la Alhambra and Generalife will make its first steps as a Public Agency under a Special Regime.
Concerning the extension of the personnel roster (RPT), approved in 2009, the 2010 stuff resources and the implementing of special educational programs for the stuff of the Alhambra have been approved in this plenary session.
Finally, the Minister of Culture has confirmed in the plenary session the consolidation of a budgetary fund foreseen in the program of action of the Ministry of Culture, which includes the interventions in the medieval orchards in the Generalife and in the so-called Silla del Moro (“Moor´s chair”).