Brussels as a European Cultural Showcase: The Role of Regional Representation Offices in Promoting Regional Culture

Since 1998, the Government of Cantabria’s Office in Brussels, led by Inma Valencia, has been much more than an institutional representation to the European Union. It has become an active platform for universities, businesses, civil society, and, most notably, for Cantabria’s cultural sector. Over the years, this office has proven that a region’s external action can and should be enriched by the promotion of its intangible heritage.

In a city like Brussels – Europe’s political capital and a hub of international cultural projection – every event has the potential to amplify a region’s visibility well beyond its borders. Aware of this, the Office has promoted cultural initiatives with high symbolic value that strengthen Cantabria’s presence at the heart of Europe.

One of the most recent and noteworthy initiatives was the performance of the Coral Voces Cántabras, which traveled to Brussels as part of its centenary celebrations to offer a moving double concert. The Cantabrian ensemble first performed a selection of sacred music in the majestic Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, followed by a concert of traditional Cantabrian music at the renowned Musical Instruments Museum (MIM).

During this commemorative event, a rabel – a traditional string instrument – specially crafted for the occasion, was donated to the MIM, symbolizing the region’s rich musical folklore. The instrument now joins the museum’s collection of more than 8,000 instruments from across Europe and beyond, including others from Cantabria.

The Minister of Economy, Finance, Regional Funding and European Funds of the Government of Cantabria, Luis Ángel Agüeros, attended both concerts and emphasized the significance of the event: “This recital, held in celebration of the choir’s centenary, aims to showcase Cantabria’s musical traditions as part of Europe’s broader musical heritage, highlighting our regional folklore in a symbolic venue such as the Museum of Musical Instruments, which houses over 8,000 instruments from around the world—including some from Cantabria, like the rabel.”

This concert was supported by the ministry led by Agüeros through the Directorate-General for European Funds, as part of a strategy to promote Cantabria’s cultural heritage within the European context.

Founded in 1924 by musicologist and folklorist Matilde de la Torre Gutiérrez, the Voces Cántabras Choir gave its first performance that same year in Cabezón de la Sal, the town where it originated. Over the course of a century, it has maintained a broad repertoire encompassing sacred music, zarzuela, opera, spirituals, habaneras, and of course, traditional Cantabrian songs. It has received numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal for Cultural Merit from the Cabezón de la Sal City Council, and has performed at international venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Over the years, the Cantabria Office in Brussels has supported a wide range of cultural events that highlight the region’s artistic diversity and deep-rooted traditions. In 2004, the Government of Cantabria and the Association of Campurrian Rabel Players organized a concert of traditional Cantabrian music at the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Brussels, during which a handcrafted rabel campurriano was donated to the museum. 

Two years later, in 2006, the Peña Labra Choir performed at the Cantabria Office during the EU’s Regional Open Days, presenting a repertoire of choral pieces that reflected both classical influences and local folklore. In 2010, two further initiatives reinforced Cantabria’s cultural presence in the Belgian capital: the exhibition “Visions of the End of Times: Beatus of Liébana and the Beatus Manuscripts”, held at the Instituto Cervantes and accompanied by a concert of ancient music that evoked the spiritual atmosphere of the Middle Ages; and a vibrant performance at the MIM by the youth ensemble Retales Casi Sinfónicos, whose eclectic mix of Spanish guitars, strings, woodwinds, accordions, and lyrical voices showcased the creativity and energy of a new generation of Cantabrian musicians.

Another major milestone was Cantabria’s prominent participation in the 2019 Folklorissimo Festival, held at the iconic Grand Place in Brussels. Spain was the guest of honor that year, and Cantabria stood out with over 100 artists and groups showcasing the region’s cultural, musical, gastronomic, and tourist identity. The “Virgen de las Nieves de Tanos” group represented traditional Cantabrian music during the festival’s main event, while the “Cantabria Infinita” stand offered tastings of local products and promotional materials.

For Inma Valencia, the objective is clear: “Cantabria’s culture has found in Brussels a powerful stage from which to be heard. It’s not just about being present in the political or economic forums of the EU, but also about sharing our traditions, our music, and our roots with international audiences.”

In short, Cantabria’s external action in Brussels demonstrates how culture can serve as a strategic tool for regional diplomacy. Thanks to the ongoing work of its Office in the European capital, Cantabria continues to carve out its place at the cultural heart of Europe.