PEACE MUSEUM PROJECT
In this document, The NGO (Non-governmental
organisation) "Francisca Mateos, Lucha por la Paz" describes the
proposal for the development of a "Peace Museum". This is an
ambitious and symbolic project that will have both national and international
impact.
Due to its content and variety of
interests, this project will be unique in the world. This document includes
all the necessary information related to our project. The main points are
structured as follows:
·
NGO "Francisca Mateos, Lucha por la paz". Information about the Organisation and its activities.
·
MS. Francisca Mateos Rodríguez. Short
biography of the remarkable person who inspired our project.
·
100 years birth anniversary of Ms. Francisca
Mateos Rodríguez. Remembrance and tributes.
The peace museum project.
-
Origins.
-
What type of museum will the Peace Museum be?.
-
Other Peace Museums in the world.
-
Objectives and methodology: Culture, coexistence
and solidarity.
-
Museum building. Project for the building.
NGO
"FRANCISCA MATEOS, LUCHA POR LA PAZ"
The organisation was founded the
28th of February of 1993, Miss Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez's birthday
anniversary. The 6th of April of 1993, the organisation was publicly
registered and acknowledged by the Spanish Ministry. It is an independent
Non-Governmental Organisation, altruistic, apolitical, not associated with any
religion and it is oriented to social, cultural and international co-operation
activities.
The Foundation's objectives are
based on the work that Miss Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez undertook during her
life. The Foundation explores her ideas of Cultural diffusion in multiple ways
(art exhibitions, libraries, conferences, literacy courses, etc), as well as
Peace activities such as elderly and ill care. In cases of conflict (national
or international), the NGO acts as a mediator or even as a "hostage"
in final instance, if needed to create a solidarity and fraternity link among
all the countries in the world.
Cultural Activities:
·
Building an impressive Museum. The NGO wants to build the Peace
·
Creating a Library.
·
Organising conferences and debates.
·
Creating dictionaries, which are unique in the world:
-
Tigrinya-Spanish (Eritrean) dictionary
-
Mongol-Spanish dictionary.
-
Tibetan-Spanish dictionary.
·
Organising exhibitions to show the present art collections that the NGO
owns (see section "Content of the Museum project").
International Co-operation
·
The NGO has delegates and collaborators all over the world.
·
The NGO mediates in all kind of international conflict (wars)
·
Agreement of intercultural relationship protocols.
·
Agreement of friendship protocols among culture, ecclesiastic and
social organisations from any place in the world.
Humanitarian Activities
Although we are considered a
cultural NGO, we also work in the solidarity field. Our main activities are:
·
Taking care of ill people, elderly and immigrants.
·
Lodging children's groups coming from catastrophic regions. The NGO was
pioneer in Spain lodging children from Chernobyl. Also, we collaborated with
children groups coming from Sahara or Iraq.
·
Offering support to young people and especially to those with promising
values.
MS.FRANCISCA
MATEOS RODRÍGUEZ
Part of Ms. Francisca
Mateos-Rodriguez legacy is her honesty and joie of living. Her contribution to
a fairer and more tolerable society, her work helping others and her
continuous fight for a better world were important aspects of our inspirer.
Our organisation wants to pass to
new generations the legacy of that woman, who was for us a friend and a
teacher. She taught us how to live and think. She was the light able to
illuminate other people and make them feel positive and fearless.
She was born in a very rural area
in Spain. When she was 22, she started her teaching degree, living in a
society that was against her desire of development, a society that did not
understand her ambitions and thought she was eccentric. Self-taught, she got
her teaching degree and after passing through several selection processes and
interviews, she started to work in Madrid, where she became headmaster in
several colleges until her retirement.
Her passion for the culture made
her fight against illiteracy from the root, expanding the capacity of schools
to allow more children onboard. Her role was decisive in the development of
the "Antonio Machado" public school with 30 classrooms, as well as
many others.
As a sensitive woman, she learnt
about Arts, especially Music and Painting. Also, faithful to her catholic
beliefs, she established "La Cofradia del Santisimo Cristo de
Serradilla" in Madrid, taking after the name of the village where she was
originally from. She loved this village until the end of her life and she was
buried there.
She was awarded with the
"Arts merit" medal by the "Alfonso X el Sabio"
institution, also the Red Cross medal and several chess prizes.
She never accepted living life as
a game in which everyone cheats. Her slogan was: "The best reward in life
is that nobody could ever make you feel ashamed of your acts".
All these are the reasons behind
this Foundation, which is open not only to those who meet FRANCISCA MATEOS-RODRIGUEZ,
but also to the young who did not have the privilege to meet her.
FRANCISCA
MATEOS RODRÍGUEZ. 100TH ANNIVERSARY (1904-2004)
At the head office of the
Foundation, we received a large number of letters and messages from
individuals and institutions, who wanted to join us celebrating Francisca's
100th anniversary. Here are some of the most significant words dedicated to
her (only a few examples are shown due to space problems):
"May the memory of her work,
intelligence and solidarity stay alive through generations. Her work
continues. Keep going!". Javier Sadaba (Philosopher).
"To Francisca Mateos, for an
education system, widespread culture and freedom of thought and hoping that
her ideas materialise creating a better future in our country". Andres
Sorel (writer).
"My best recollection of
Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez is as a great woman, who helped others until her
death". Ana
Maria Matute (writer)
"All my admiration to
Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez. I will always support her". Fernando
Arrabal (artist and writer)
"My prayers for the success
of the "fight for Peace", always supported by Francisca
Mateos". His Holiness Dalai Lama (Tibet)
"I always admired Francisca,
her tireless fight and her very pure heart". Javier Marias
(writer).
"In remembrance of
Francisca, I support her generous intention to achieve Peace and Justice
anywhere anytime". Terenci Moix (writer).
Ms. Mateos-Rodriguez had the
marvellous initiative to found "La Hermandad Extremeña del Stmo. Cristo
de la Victoria de Serradilla" in Madrid, which keeps all the catholic
"extremeños" united. Our Monastery has only grateful words for
Francisca and her family, who demonstrated so much love to our community. Maria
T. Casares (Abbess of Santa Clara Abbey in Caceres).
In memory of the passionate
Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez, who strove for peace in the world. Mario
Benedetti (writer).
In memory of Francisca, who
spread the "culture" through men in better way than books. Gustavo
Bueno (philosopher).
Francisca was a lively witness in
the search for Freedom, Democracy and Peace. Domingo Malagon (painter).
My admiration to Francisca
Rodriguez-Mateos and to those who follow her exciting adventure. Raul del
Pozo (writer and journalist).
The work started by Francisca is
still continued by those looking for the Truth, the
social Peace and Justice. B. Chuluun (Director of Gobi Institute
in Mongolia).
In memory of an exceptional woman
(Francisca) and her work in the social and tuition fields. Marcelino
Camacho.
Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez was
the founder of the "Hermandad Extremena del Stmo. Cristo de Serradilla en
Madrid" and was for all of us a model to follow by all Christians. Monsenor
Fernando Filoni (Vatican representative in Iraq).
Francisca Mateos Rodriguez was an
admirable woman, pursuing social Justice. Being autodidact, she achieved a
degree and become headmaster of several colleges in Madrid. She
actively enjoyed the Arts and founded "La Hermandad extremena del
Santisimo Cristo de la Serradilla en Madrid". After overcoming large
difficulties, she achieved that the statue of her "Cristo" was
exalted in "San Millan and San Gayetano" Church, where a new chapel
was built to host the statue. Cayetana Alba,
(Duquesa de Alba).
In memory of a great catholic
teacher and an excellent follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
founder of "Hermandad Extremeña del Stmo. Cristo de la Serradilla"
in Madrid, Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez, in her birth centenary I pray the
Lord and the Virgin "La Almudena" that the work she did during her
life diffusing the evangel and passing her faith to others continue among
those who met her. My best wishes for her sons, Ruoco Varela, (Cardinal
of Madrid).
In remembrance of the
unforgettable Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez, founder of "Cofradia del Stmo.
Cristo de la Serradilla" in Madrid, and my best wishes to her sons and
family. Manuel Monteiro de Castro ("Nuncio Apostolico del
Vaticano" in Spain, who gave the His Holiness Gold Medal to Ms.
Francisca's sons).
I feel very proud of having had
two mothers: the biological mother and Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez. Elena
Terrones.
Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez
was respected and admired by people with different political and religious
beliefs. She was a great woman with a privileged and universal mind. Amaya
R. Ibarruri (Pasionaria's daughter).
Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez is
the scream surged from any type of suffering, any type of fight, from all
those Art and Knowledge lovers, for all those who know, feel and love without
the need for writing or reading. Lord Yehudi Menuhin (England).
Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez
was an excellent example of dignity, tolerance and humanity for all women in
the world. Aung San Suu Kyi, (Peace Nobel Prize, Birmania)
These lines are to show my
respect and appreciation to Ms. Francisca Mateos-Rodriguez, a wonderful woman
from "Extremadura" (Spain) who was ahead of her time, in her birth
centenary. Ms. "Paquita", as she was known by those who lived beside
her, was a honest, active, humanitarian and self-taught woman (this was far
more difficult during the 1950's than nowadays). She was awarded with the
"Arts merit" medal by the "Alfonso X el Sabio"
institution, as well as the Red Cross medal. As president of the
"Extremadura" county, I show my respect and appreciation to her and
support her slogan: "The best award is that nobody could ever make you
feel ashamed of your acts". During more than 30 years of teaching
activity, first in her original county (Extremadura) and later in several
places throughout Spain, Francisca was a "point of reference" for
all those who met her. All along her life, she overcame many difficulties,
helping others, fighting against illiteracy. She wrote many articles in the
press and practiced Arts like Painting and Music. Without doubt, Francisca was
a pioneer and admired
woman by all those who met her.
If Extremadura in the last century had had many man and women like her,
without doubt, the history of our region would be different and also our
present. Fortunately, nowadays cases like Francisca's are not an exception in
our county. In addition to her social effort, teaching, creative and
humanitarian work, faithful to her religious principles, she founded the
"Hermandad Extremeña del Santisimo Cristo de Serradilla" en Madrid
in 1958. This exceptional woman, who was eulogised during her continuous fight
for peace, loved until the end her birth place (Serradilla), where she was
buried. J.C.
Rodriguez-Ibarra (President of "Junta
de Extremadura").
PEACE MUSEUM PROJECT
Before the proposal made with
this document, the City Hall of Plasencia offered a convent (XVI century) to
Mr. Belisario Sanchez-Mateos especially restored to accommodate the Peace
Museum.
Since the "Francisca Mateos,
Lucha por la Paz" NGO was founded, there have been several proposals to
build the Museum. Nonetheless, these proposals did not meet all the
requirements of such a large project (e.g. location, space available) and also
the NGO preferred to wait until the centenary of Ms. Francisca
Mateos-Rodriguez for its construction.
A number of proposals from some
cities interested in lodging the Peace Museum have been received and evaluated
by the NGO (president, members and volunteers). Despite of having received
good proposals from some European cities, the NGO will give preference to
Spanish cities since the NGO head office is located in Spain.
We always thought that Madrid
could well meet the requirements that we are looking for. Moreover, this is
the city where the NGO head office is placed and most of the work is done.
Madrid will therefore be considered as the first candidate before any other
Spanish or European city.
WHAT TYPE OF MUSEUM WILL THE PEACE MUSEUM BE?
The idea of a Museum that most of
people have is a place containing Arts or Scientific collections properly
placed to facilitate their exhibition to the public. Nonetheless, we want to
change this concept of a museum and provide a more dynamic and modern
understanding of it.
At present, we can distinguish
among three types of Peace Museums based on its objectives. Museums dedicated
to show the horrors of war, museums committed to fight against war, mainly
called antiwar museums and finally museums committed to tell not only about
wars, but to show the Peace positive aspects.
Our museum will match the latest
type and will constitute an education experience about Peace.
Visitors of Peace Museums should
be actively involved in the achievement process of a peaceful future. In this
context, the Peace Museum may have a triple function: it will be a museum, a
Peace education method and will help different cultures to live together
peacefully.
Data obtained from Peter van den
Dungen (1999), expert in Peace studies of University of Bradford revealed that
the eldest example of Peace Museums comes down to several exhibitions held by
Dr. Benjamin Rush (famous Physicist from Philadelphia) in 1798, which helped
to abolish war.
Also, another historic example is
Peace Palace in The Hage (Netherlands), kept by the American Andrew Carnegie
with the idea of holding UN International Justice Court meetings to avoid war
based on International Rights. This could not avoid the first and second world
wars, but it is still at present the place for UN International Justice Court.
The International War and Peace
Museum of Lucerne (Switzerland) is considered the first properly established
Peace Museum in the world. It was founded by Jean de Bloch in 1902 with the
purpose of being an antiwar museum. Similarly, Ernst Friedrich established the
first International Antiwar Museum in Berlin (1925). His intention was
"make war to the war" (Kellner, 2000).
The Peace Museums in Japan were
created as a consequence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and they were the
origin of campaigns in favour of nuclear disarming. In the 80's and 90's the
features shown in the museums started to expand, originating a review of the
Japanese war history from both angles: Japan as a victim in the bombings and
also as an attacker in previous wars (auto-critique).
At present, there are several
International Peace Museums around the world. The following are the most
important:
-
Antiwar Museum (Berlin, Germany)
-
Antiwar Museum Project (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
-
Caen Memorial
-
Canadian War Museum (Canada)
-
Grass Roots House (Kochi, Japan)
-
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Hiroshima, Japan)
-
The International Museum of Peace and Solidarity (Samarkanda,
Uzbekistan)
-
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (Geneva, Switzerland)
-
The Japan Peace Museum (Tokyo, Japan)
-
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University
-
Museu de la Pau del Castell de Figueres (Spain)
-
Museo de la Paz de Gernika (Spain)
-
Museo Internazionale Della Croce Rossa (Mantova, Italy)
-
National Museums of Kenya (Nairobi, Kenia)
-
The Peace Center, Burg Schalaining (Austria)
-
The Peace Gallery
-
The Peace Museum (Bradford, UK)
-
The Peace Museum (Chicago, USA)
-
Peace Museum (Nurenberg, Germany)
-
Peace Museum Bridge at Remagen (Germany)
-
Peace Museum of Saitama (Japan)
-
First Austrian Peace Museum (Austria)
To make this project a reality we
need to build a large building, which will reprsent the Peace and will
accommodate the Art and Culture collections available in the "Francisca
Mateos, Lucha por la Paz" NGO and those collections related with Peace
donated from different places in the world.
This is an opportunity to create
the first museum of the XXI century in a city with capable to compete with the
best cities in the world.
The Peace Museum "Francisca
Mateos, Lucha por la Paz" will be unique in its content and purpose.
The preface of the UNESCO
constitution says: "As the war is originated in the mind of the men, it
is in the mind of men where the principles of the peace have to be
established".
The International committee of
Museums (ICOM) of UNESCO celebrates the International Museum day, since 1977.
This day is the 18th of May. The year 2000 was dedicated to the Museums for
the Peace and Harmony in the Society. This year was consequently declared by
the UN as the International Year of Peace Culture. This showed the committee's
The NGO "Francisca Mateos,
Lucha por la Paz" participated in the meetings celebrated by the UNESCO
commemorating the International Year of Peace. In these meeting the NGO
suggested new ideas to include in the Museums of the XXI century providing a
dynamic approach to its activities. Since its establishment, the NGO believes
in Peace to be achieved through Culture, which is the only bond among
societies.
The main objective of the Peace
Museum "Francisca Mateos" is to seek Peace through Culture, which is
the only bond between societies.
Peace does not only mean
avoidance of war, but also fighting for justice and new cultures that help to
relate with others pacifically.
From our point of view, the
Museum should be a place where to educate the human mind, this means the
intelligence, feelings, wisdom and imagination to create the principles of
Peace. The Museum should encourage a peaceful attitude to its visitors.
All the exhibitions and
activities shown in the Museum will have a common objective: Peace. The means
that we have to achieve it are Culture, Coexistence and Solidarity.
The Peace Museum will allow us to
reinforce these three topics and to transform a building in a main centre for
Peace in the world. At the same time, the Museum will contain a wonderful
artistic collection that will allow visitors to take part in cultural and
human activities.
We are fully convinced that
Culture, Coexistence and Solidarity are the
THE CULTURE IN THE PEACE MUSEUM
In the Museum, Culture will be
understood as the ways of human expression originated in the Art,
intelligence, thoughts or feelings.
Culture will be exhibit
throughout the Art from different cultures in the planet.
Any manner to exhibit culture is
a mode to establish human bonds. Therefore the Museum will be a collection of
human cultural expressions helping to achieve Peace. E.g. paintings,
sculptures, books, music, cinema, theatre...
Culture gathered in traditions of
different societies all over the world. This will be shown in temporal or
permanent exhibitions achieved by international interchange agreements. Any
culture, even the most hidden ones, could be interesting to encounter.
Promoting Culture by creating a
multilingual library in software or book format with thousands of books in its
shelves.
The cultural co-operation of
experts in different areas, who will give conferences, debates or meetings
within the Museum to share their knowledge.
The Peace Museum will contain a
permanent exposition of work of art related with Peace and Culture, main
aspects exhibiting the real value of the Art.
There will also be objects, which
have contributed to the achievement of Peace (objects with symbolic value, or
objects used by his/her owner in Peace treaties).
All the objects exposed will be
identified and explained accordingly.
The activities in the Museum will
be dynamic, which will help to keep finding new works of art and symbols to
exhibit throughout the world.
COEXISTENCE IN THE PEACE MUSEUM
The
coexistence will be exercised through events where people from different
cultures can live together for some time and also by signing collaboration
agreements between religious and cultural institutions.
The Museum pretends to be a
symbol and an institution for all citizens. Its content and activities will be
oriented to look for the maximum benefit to the society.
Gathering people from different
cultures and beliefs with the final objective of finding the cultural and
ideological richness existing in the world by using "communication"
and reason as tools among people.
Our aim is to create an assembly
for debate assisted by experts and personalities.
This will be one of the
distinctions to the concept of traditional Museum. We will enjoy a great
artistic collection a the same time that we can participate in cultural and
coexistence activities.
SOLIDARITY IN THE PEACE MUSEUM
Solidarity starts with the
awareness of the existence of different cultures and the acknowledgement of
their differences.
Solidarity will always be focused
as helping others, but not as a consequence of compassion. The value of the
dignity of a person is above all.
Solidarity throughout the
understanding and diffusion of the problems and injustices happening in the
world to allocate the necessary help. The Museum will be a peaceful instrument
to protest against the violation of Human Rights.
In this sense, the Museum of
Peace could be a solidarity management centre for citizens. The different
N.G.O. in the region could look for the fastest and most effective way to
assign aid to the needed areas. This does not mean that all the N.G.O. must
have the same objectives but that they could co-operate for those common
objectives.
The NGO has the content and the
project for the Museum, we only miss the building to show it to the world.
The Museum must have an area
dedicated to exhibitions (temporal and permanents) and another area dedicated
to the activities of the NGO "Francisca Mateos, Lucha por la Paz".
Both areas will be in contact complementing to each other.
The most important area of the
Museum will be dedicated to the exhibition of Art work owned by the NGO We
would like to distribute this area based on the type of Artwork(painting or
sculpture), style (contemporary/classic,abstract/figurative, etc) and the
specific culture they represent (Buddhism, Christian, Arabic, etc). The
initial idea is to dedicate a specific room to the following collections:
-
Life of Ms. F. Mateos-Rodriguez, in honour of our inspirer.
-
Russian icons and items. More than one hundred Russian art icons
of great quality. The oldest is from the III century B.C.
-
Art work from Sario, S.M. Belisario, Picasso, Miro, Magritte,
Dalí, Günter Grass, Arroyo, Canogar, Palazuelo, Saura, Tàpies, Maruja
Mallo, Rafael Alberti, Samsonov, Dimitrievsky, Rueda, Marx Ernst, Appel,
Antonio López, Chillida, Paul Wunderlich, Guinovart, Ràfols-Casamada,
Barceló, Mariscal, Llamazares, Zush, Broto, Genovés, Voroviov, Viola,
Gregorio Prieto, Juán de Ávalos, F. Brunery, Kasimir Malievich, José
Caballero, Kimi Sugai, Willi Glasauer, Bores, Princess Grace of Mónaco,
Vázquez Diaz, etc. Also we want to highlight the 43 pre-designs done by
Picasso for his famous Guernica. Given the amount of paintings that we
-
Iluminismo. His honour Belisario Sanchez, member of the
"Real Academia de las Bellas Artes de San Fernando", has decided to
donate his collection of "Illuminist" paintings to the Peace Museum.
The Iluminist is a painting style patented in the "Ministerio de Ciencia
y Tecnologia" as a scientific invention, which is unique in the world.
This unique technique is considered as a new entrance in the painting world
(MOMA Council President, New York).
-
N.A.S.A and space. This collection will contain a large amount
of original pictures taken from space and donated by the American Space
Agency. The collection will include original pictures signed by the most
famous astronauts: Amstrong, Aldring, Collins, Iuri Gagarin, Valentina
Tereshkova, ... Also original letters written by them and their personal
uniforms will be included in the collection.
-
Arabic Culture. We will create a complete Arabic room, which
will contain books, objects in the proper surroundings. Original objects will
help to remember the origins of this civilisation. Among these items, we
should highlight those from Egypt (sculptures and old objects) and Persia.
-
Buddhist Culture. We own one of the most complete collections
containing ritual objects, sculptures, old manuscripts and a library with
25000 entries.
-
Christianity. A complete collection including sculptures and
ritual objects related with Catholic and Orthodox religions. This also
contains a "Lignum Crucis".
-
Personalities and historic objects. Among these there are
autographs, jewels and objects related with the cinema and theatre themes.
Sculptures that are unique in the world, wills and personal items which
belonged to celebrities such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Rodolfo
Valentino, Ana Pavlova, Ingrid Bergman, Antonio Stradivarius, Napoleon, etc.
-
Short-term exhibitions. Mainly intended for young artists who
want to show their artwork, offering them the chance to express themselves
with freedom.
-
Short-term artwork exchange. We will promote exhibitions by
exchanging artwork with other museums and organisations.
It is important to emphasise that
the organisation of these exhibition areas with count with the advice of
experts. This means that areas dedicated to Islam, Christianity or Buddhism
will be organised with experts from these communities. It will always be
easier to learn from a culture by being in direct contact with the reality of
the culture.
Once the museum start working we
will keep adding new exhibition areas dedicated to cultures not mentioned in
this document (e.g. Judaism). This will happen as soon as we gather enough
items from such cultures. In the meantime, the short-term exhibitions will
cover these cultures.
A second half of the museum will
be dedicated to the activities going on in our NGO "Francisca Mateos,
Lucha por la Paz". This part will contain:
-
An electronic library with thousands of books available for the
general public in a digital format. At the moment it is one of the largest in
Europe.
-
A library with thousands of books of different subjects
available in the usual format.
-
A video-collection with hundreds of entries.
-
A music-collection with classic, pop, ethnic, opera, zarzuela
-
An acting room in which the public will benefit from debates,
conferences, concerts, presentations, theatre plays, etc. We will maximise the
outcome of this room.
-
An area for "coexistence". We will create an open area
with garden where people can exchange opinions, read, relax or find
information. Learn to live together and talk with others is essential.
The building for the Museum is a
very important part of the whole project. It constitutes the image of a Museum
in the XXI century.
The building must have enough
capacity to contain all the exhibition items described in the Content section
and also a generous space for the acting room and "coexistence"
area.
It is important to mention that
the Museum will probably expand with the pass of time. This means that there
will be new artworks related with the Culture of Peace coming from different
places to enhance the existing collections. Thus, it is convenient to think
that new areas might be needed in a near future.
The acting room is a vital place
within the building. It is imperative to meet the requirements of space,
versatility and accessibility for this area.
The "coexistence" area
must be a place oriented to smooth conversation and relaxation. It will be a
gardened area in which people can relax by reading, walking, chatting with
others. The garden would contain sculptures of classic philosophers and
replicas of famous sculptures.
PROJECT FOR THE BUILDING OF THE PEACE MUSEUM
The building must be "inspired" by the Culture of
Peace.
We have been analysing and
discussing in the NGO about the shape of the building and have arrived to some
conclusions. The model of the building that we would like to present to you
represents four faces looking at the four cardinal points. The building is a
combination of rounded and squared shapes in a harmonic and symbolic way...
Visitors can see in these faces a
Greek mythology figure (classic), the silhouette of "Don Quijote de
Cervantes" (symbol of the Spanish culture in the world), the image of
transcendental thinking (far East culture) or the "Cristo de
Serradilla" (icon venerated by Ms. Francisca Mateos). In any case,
everyone will be able to see his/her own choice.
Each of the rooms in the building
must be independent and self-sufficient to ensure that visitors can
concentrate on what is represented in there. The common characteristic for all
of these rooms will be the classic and relaxed atmosphere. We have chosen the
classic because a Museum should have permanent elements rather than ephemeral.
The classic aspects guarantee its perpetuity.
The objective is to expose the
Museum to the public as much as possible. In order to achieve it, we will
provide plenty of publicity before, during and after its establishment. The
following methods will be used:
-
Providing information to official institutions (local, national and
international).
-
Public awareness through several media campaigns.
-
Alliance with private entities.
-
Partnership with other NGOs, which are also related with Peace and
Culture diffusion.
-
Constitution of "Amigos de la Paz" (Peace friends)
association.
With these methods, we will
achieve the participation of diverse social bodies, thus the Museum will be an
"alive" and participative entity from the very beginning.
The NGO "Francisca Mateos,
Lucha por la Paz" will manage the Museum activities in an independent
manner and always trying to benefit the society. This is in reality the main
objective of project. The management of the Museum will match the NGO's
principles.
Inside the Museum, people will
only talk about Peace. Our tools to achieve it will be the Culture,
Coexistence and Solidarity. Neither political nor religious ideology will
dominate or interfere in the activities undertaken in the Museum. Inside the
Museum, all people are equal.
The Museum will include an
everlasting remembrance, which will contain the name of those people and
institutions that contributed to its development.