The Fraga City Council has awarded the contract for the works for 2.7 million euros and the rehabilitation is expected to begin in May.
The mayor of Fraga, Ignacio Gramún, highlighted the importance of this project for the cultural life of the capital of the Bajo/Baix Cinca region: “Fraga lacks a suitable space to offer an optimal cultural program, and the start of these works will represent a very significant step towards the future of culture, entertainment and leisure in our city.”
The Fraga City Council awarded the contract this Friday for the complete renovation of the Sala Florida, transforming it into a multi-purpose auditorium. The project, to be carried out by Construcciones Uxcar 97 SL for €2.762.653,66 (€2.283.184,84 before taxes), has a ten-month timeframe and is scheduled to begin in early May.
“With this renovation of the Sala Florida, we will once again enjoy a place that is very dear to all the residents of Fraga. We spent so many moments of our youth in the old cinema, so recovering and bringing back to life a space that brings back so many good memories for all of us, while also adding essential facilities for a city the size of Fraga, is something I consider very positive,” Gramún said.
The renovation project for the Sala Florida has received a grant of €724.000 from the European Union's Next Generation funds. To justify this amount, the work must be completed by September 30, 2024, which is not feasible given the project's timeline, which anticipates completion by spring 2025.
In this regard, the Councillor for Urban Planning, Esther Rubio, explained that, “when the project received no bids last summer, we requested an extension to justify the subsidy from the Spanish Government, but they didn't clarify whether they would grant it. If they ultimately don't grant us the extension, we will assume this part of the project cost, which represents around 25% of the total, with the City Council's own funds,” she assured.
Finally, the councilwoman described the renovation of the Sala Florida as a "milestone for the city." "We will have a space with a capacity for around 600 people, perfectly equipped to host all kinds of cultural activities. Currently, we are holding most events at the Castle, which is not technically suitable for performances and often lacks sufficient seating. With this project, the Sala Florida will triple the space offered by the Castle, and we will have a venue that is very well equipped technically."
