Pedro Antonio Ruiz Santos, the delegate of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha in Albacete, has inaugurated the travelling exhibition ‘The Transition in Images: Building a New Reality in Castilla-La Mancha (1976-2026)’ in Villarrobledo. This exhibition showcases the history of the autonomous community over the past 50 years, focusing on the role of its key figures.
During his visit, Ruiz Santos emphasised the significance of the exhibition, linking it to both the democratic construction process and the establishment of the autonomous community itself. He stated, “To talk about democracy is to talk about the capacity that citizens have been acquiring,” recalling that Castilla-La Mancha is a relatively young autonomy, having been established alongside the consolidation of democracy in Spain.
He highlighted major milestones such as the creation of the Junta de Comunidades in 1978, the approval of the Statute of Autonomy in 1982, and the first regional elections in 1983, all of which are reflected in the exhibition panels. He described the exhibition as an educational resource aimed at bringing this period closer to younger generations, particularly those born into democracy who learn about the Transition mainly through textbooks.
Ruiz Santos also underscored the collective significance of the Transition, stressing the importance of remembering this period from a shared perspective. “In Castilla-La Mancha and in Spain, we can bring forth one of the best things we have built together, without political colours, without class differences, but rather together we have established this democracy that is now a reality, and that is the purpose of this exhibition,” he affirmed.
The Mayor of Villarrobledo, Valentín Bueno, expressed gratitude to the Government of Castilla-La Mancha for choosing the town as one of the first locations to host the exhibition. Following its stay in Villarrobledo and Almansa, the exhibition will be open to the public from 12 to 22 November in La Roda and Hellín. It will then move to Tobarra and Elche de la Sierra from 25 to 30 November, concluding its provincial tour in Tarazona de la Mancha and Alcaraz from 3 to 13 December.
The travelling exhibition is an outdoor adaptation of the main exhibition, which can be visited until 8 December at the Provincial Museum of Albacete, titled ‘The Transition in Castilla-La Mancha: The Construction of a New Reality and Identity (1976-1983)’. This main exhibition features documents and artworks from key creators of the period, along with an immersive space that includes gamification and technological installations to delve into the national and regional context, social changes, the role of women, and the cultural transformation of the era.
In Villarrobledo, Ruiz Santos noted that the programming associated with this commemoration also includes free activities, such as musical events and the creation of five permanent artistic works. The programme will also recognise political representatives and civil society groups that contributed to the democratic change, host forums and meetings, educational activities, and initiatives aimed at recovering photographs, testimonies, and personal memories to construct a collective memory of the Transition in Castilla-La Mancha. Additionally, the proposal ‘The Transition through Young Illustrators’ offers a contemporary perspective through the work of ten regional creators, while the theatre company Narea Producciones will present a theatrical performance for various groups and the general public, recreating key moments from the democratic period.
