"The Charity" is More than a building: it is a collective dream that germinates in the Asturian landscape to give shape to a space where art, community and territory convergeLocated in the municipality of Piloña (Asturias) —specifically in the town of L'Infiestu—, this initiative aims to rescue an old theater to turn it into a cultural and social catalyst in a rural environment.
If we look back at the intentions expressed by the project, we see that its aim is twofold: on the one hand, the recovery of the architectural and symbolic heritage; on the other, the community revitalization of the council, with an intergenerational dialogue, between the traditional and the contemporary.
At the forefront, along with other promoters, is Rodrigo Cuevas: musician and agitator of Asturian tradition, awarded the National Contemporary Music Competition 2023 For its way of blending folklore and contemporary popular music, La Benéfica is, in its sphere, something more than a theater: a politics of land and neighborhood forged through song and dance, unity and commitment.
Activities of the Charity
The charity develops a wide range of cultural, community and rural revitalization activitiesSome of its defining characteristics are:
> A space for contemporary and avant-garde artistic expression, as well as popular and traditional culture.
> Transmission of knowledge between generations: workshops, meetings and community actions.
Community action to combat rural abandonment and depopulation: the idea that culture can be a driving force for territorial life.
> Diverse cultural program: exhibition of live crafts, events such as “Amagüestu”, activities related to the territory, art, resistance…
Schedule of activities of La Benéfica
There are recurring annual events, such as the amagüestu (chestnuts and sweet cider, plus a host of other activities), workshops and exhibitions, concerts… stay tuned and visit the link we provide to keep up to date with everything they have planned.
A brief history of La Benéfica
The original building dates from the early 20th century—now restored. The Piloña Charitable Society, Mutual Aid Society, It was born with the contributions of the associates who addressed those needs that the Stateor other institutions, did not cover (illness, widowhood, financial hardship). It was so successful that in 1926 a large hall of about 400 square meters was built. It was used as a ballroom, a social meeting place, and a cinema every Sunday. until 1946, when it was abandoned.
Around 2018, the rehabilitation campaign began, driven by local stakeholders, to bring the abandoned theater back to life. The project, funded through both public and private means and involving the community, has been presented as an example of applying the Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas.
In short, La Benéfica represents that Asturias that does not resign itself to losing its soul or its landscape, but reinvents itself from culture, from the community, from the recovery of heritage and the generation of new dynamics of life. It is a project in which tradition and modernity are not opposed, but intertwined..
Location of La Benéfica
Address: Plaza la Benéfica.
L'Infiestu, 33530 Piloña.
* Photographs taken from the official website of the charity.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
