Controversy in the Consell de Mallorca: the Artistic Heritage position no longer requires art history experts

PalmThe Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca) has introduced a profound change to the syllabus for the competitive examinations for the position of Senior Technician in Artistic Heritage, abandoning a model focused almost exclusively on art history and opting for a more technical, legal, and administrative profile, closer to other professional profiles such as architect. This shift has generated a debate that has reached the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), which has expressed firm opposition and asked the island institution to rectify it. In a letter from its rector, Jaume Carot, the university denounces that the new model "creates a serious and worrying situation that, from an academic and professional point of view, could be detrimental to the proper assessment and conservation of Mallorca's historical and artistic heritage." The UIB demands the reversal of the current syllabus and the reinstatement of the requirements from previous calls for applications, limiting access to the position exclusively to graduates in Art History, as is the case with other specific profiles within the Administration. Carot adds that the current syllabus discriminates against art historians, limiting both their access to permanent positions and their chances of securing relevant roles within the pool of substitute teachers.

According to the rector, the new approach "emphasizes legal and juridical content that clearly favors professional profiles in architecture or construction engineering, over those of art historians." In a context where humanities profiles are increasingly less present in public administration, there is an alarming statistic: 95% of Palma's Eixample district could be demolished because it is not listed as a heritage site, a situation that highlights the need for art history experts to protect heritage. Furthermore, many towns lack a heritage catalog, even though it is mandatory.

Those in charge who are not experts

The Senior Technician in Artistic Heritage participates in essential reports and decisions regarding Cultural Heritage Assets (BIC). However, the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) warns that the change in the syllabus could leave technical staff lacking the necessary specialized knowledge, with repercussions extending to other departments that rely on the same pool of temporary staff. The document highlights responsibilities "as sensitive as determining the criteria for intervention and protection of Cultural Heritage Assets" and points to potential repercussions in areas such as "the management of the Sound and Image Archive and the administration of the Consell's art collection."

The Consell recalls that it was the Pacte coalition that allowed architects to apply for the position, but without modifying the syllabus. Now, according to sources close to the institution, "what they have done is deliver the final blow to ensure the position is tailored to an architect and not an art historian." "With the old syllabus, there wasn't a single architect who knew about 16th-century embroidery, for example. And they didn't apply. Including architects is a big mistake," they add. What will happen now is a paradox in which art historians will be the ones who don't fit the syllabus for the Higher Technician in Artistic Heritage position.

The same sources warn that the position advertised by the Consell is "blurred." "Within the institutions dedicated to heritage, there won't be anyone with the knowledge to protect or make decisions about the art and heritage of Mallorca. And it's a problem that will drag on for 30 years, because those who will remain on the waiting list will also be architects." The solution, they add, is to cancel the call for applications and reopen the position with the old syllabus, which the Consell rules out.

Where is the Headquarters?

The contrast between the old syllabi and the 2025 one is striking. Previously, the program offered a comprehensive overview of Mallorca's art and heritage, from prehistory to the 20th century. Now, the focus is on how cultural heritage is protected, managed, and legally addressed. According to the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), this "represents a very significant change compared to previous calls for applications, as virtually all the mandatory art history content has been eliminated." The Consell (Island Council) maintains that specialized technicians have developed the job requirements and syllabi based on models from other autonomous communities and in accordance with the duties of the position, but sources close to the matter counter: "There is no art specialist position that requires urban planning issues." Looking ahead, the Consell wants to create a new position requiring an art history degree: "We need it, but we can't change the current process."

The previous syllabus dedicated dozens of topics to explaining in detail the artistic styles, major buildings, most prominent artists, and urban development of Palma and the surrounding rural areas. A deep understanding of Mallorcan Gothic, Baroque, Modernism, and figures like Guillem Sagrera and Joan Miró was key to the preparation. In the new model, this background is no longer central. The focus is no longer so much on identifying, contextualizing, and interpreting a work or a heritage site, but rather on understanding the legal frameworks and administrative procedures.

The change is especially evident when comparing specific examples. Where previously students were required to study 'Pre-Talayotic Culture in Mallorca through Archaeological Remains' and 'Talayotic Culture in Mallorca: Main Sites,' there are now topics such as 'The Concept of Historical Heritage and its Evolution' and 'The Role of UNESCO and Advisory Bodies.' Central monuments like the Cathedral of Mallorca (La Seu de Mallorca) disappear as specific objects of study and give way to generic headings on "protection measures and legal categories." The same occurs with medieval and modern art: topics such as 'Mallorcan Gothic Painting' and 'Mallorcan Baroque Sculpture' are replaced by sections on 'Compulsory Expropriation of Property,' 'Infringements and Sanctions,' and 'Specific Aspects of Granting Teaching Positions.' Key figures like Guillem Sagrera and Joan Miró disappear from the curriculum, while content such as 'The Market for Cultural Goods' and 'Public Procurement' is added. Overall, the curriculum no longer requires direct knowledge of the works, artists, and cultural context of Mallorca, but instead prioritizes legal frameworks, administrative procedures, and technical management criteria. Expertise is no longer necessary to manage art.