The Bilbao City Council has introduced new terrace regulations that aim to limit the activity of street musicians. The new ordinance bans amplifiers and pre-recorded tracks, and restricts artists from performing in popular areas such as the Casco Viejo, the first half of Gran Vía, Ercilla, or Diputación.
The municipal government's goal is to address disturbances that sometimes occur in certain parts of the city, even though these are highly sought-after locations for street artists. However, these measures have drawn criticism from the opposition and from SOS Bilboko Kaleko Artistak, a collective formed to defend the interests of street musicians.
“"These are drastic prohibitions for street art. While we see the City Council organizing mega-events that completely occupy the city center, street theater, dance, circus, and music are on the verge of extinction."
The collective stated that they have spent months attempting to engage in dialogue with the municipal government without success. They believe the new regulations constitute an attack on freedom of expression and a step backward in supporting culture.
To protest this situation, three mobilizations have been called: the first will be on April 25, at 12:30 PM, in Arriaga Square; the second on May 15, at 12:00 PM, in front of the City Hall; and the final one on May 23, at 6:30 PM, a demonstration starting from Elíptica Square.
