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The party began on Saturday afternoon and will conclude next Sunday, making La Plata “The World Capital of the Basque Diaspora.” Following is a report on the inauguration along with the complete week of activities, in its final form.  If you can, don’t hesitate and come to the capital of the province of Buenos Aires!

La Plata, Argentina.  Semana Nacional Vasca 2014 is underway.  The events began on Saturday afternoon at the “Islas Malvinas” Cultural Center, with welcoming words by the secretary of the hosting club, Maria Fernanda Astigarraga.

Opening ceremonies also marked the inauguration of the “Gure Arropa” (Our clothes) and “The Basque Argentina” exhibits presented by Judith Martinerana and Professor Laura Berenguer, Director of the French Alliance in La Plata.  Both exhibits will be open from 10-20:00 through Sunday the 9th.

The event was attended by members of the board of directors and members of the French Alliance in La Plata, the French Cultural and Mutual and the French Consul in La Plata.  Also present were pelotaris from Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina in paleta cuero and female Argentine paleta who will compete in tournaments at the trinquete and fronton as well as a large number of members and friends of the Basque club.

During the ceremony those who were involved with the designs of the festivities various logos, were recognized among others.  Lautaro Galman, who designed the club’s anniversary logo; the recipients of the “Roberto Rollie” Chair in visual communication it he College of Fine Arts at the National University of la Plata that worked with the Chair on the project to create the SNV 2014 logo, as well as Ivan Kober, the winning designer.  Dat code, by Agustin Silva, Nicolas Scaffardi, Daian Scuarissi and Pablo Censi were also recognized for their redesign of the Basque club’s website.

The inauguration concluded with a toast, by members of the Peña Gastronomica, “Bixente Ibarguren.” The Basque club also highlighted the “impeccable locution” of Iñaki Aramayo in Basque and Spanish and the performance of dantzari Andoni Azcarate who did an Aurresku.

Final program for the Semana Nacional Vasca 2014

Monday November 3

-17 to 21hs, presentations on Basque culture: 

• “The Basque Presence in Various Environments: Historic, American, Argentine, Literature and the University
• "Basques in Argentina,” by Mikel Ezkerr
• “Origins of the Basques,” by Jorge Beramendi
• "Basque Lectureship at the UNLP. Etxepare Basque Institute," by Dani Oiarbide
• “Yesterday and Today in Basque Literature,” by Carlos Irisarri
• "Basques in Newfoundland," by Luis Luquez.

Location: Microcine. “Islas Malvinas” Cultural Center

-19:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location: Place: club trinquete.

Tuesday November 4

-11:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location: Frontón at the Parque Pereyra Iraola. Centenario Street. 

-18 a 20hs, Youth soccer get together. Location: Basque club sports complex

-18:00hs, Presentation “Write in Basque: an Approach to Basque Contemporary Literature,” by Basque writer Fito Rodríguez and the coordination of the Basque language and culture lectureship of the Etxepare Basque Institute at UNLP.  Location: UNLP, College of Economic Sciences Room B. Street  6 – 47 and 48.

-19:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location: Basque club trinquete. 

Wednesday November 5

-10:00hs, Semifinals of International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location: Basque club trinquete

-16:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location:  Frontón at the Parque Pereyra Iraola. Centenario Street. 

-18 a 20:30hs, ‘Introductory talk: “The path of Basque Cinema, 1895-2013.” Screening of the film Kutsidazu bidea, Ixabel (Show me the Way, Isabel), by Fernando Bernués and Mireia Gabilondo. Reflexionsand debate led by Professor Carlos Gabilondo. Place: Microcine. Cultural room “Bernardino Rivadavia”. Admission free and open to the public

Thursday November 6

-11:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: México, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta. Location:  Frontón at the Parque Pereyra Iraola. Centenario Street. 

-19:00hs, Presentation of the play “A(nt)ZE(z)LANA!” by Marcela Inda and Sabrina Otegui, winner of the “Nire Etxea-My House” contest.  Participating actors include Estefanía Bonafine, Patricia Crescenz, Erica Ledo and Marcelo Perona under the direction of Mario Lombard.  It will be performned in Sapnish. Place: “Islas Malvinas” Cultural Center

-19:00hs, Finals of the International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta.Xare exhibition Location: Basque Center's Trinkete.
-Basque Stories from the South: Permanent Exhibition of the work received. Call made by the Delegation of Euskadi in Argentina-Mercosur. Location: Basque club.

Friday November 7

-8:00hs, Delegate Reception / Delegate Breakfast. Event hall. Basque Club/Restaurant. Accompaniment of delegates to their lodging.

-11:30hs, the International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Paleta Cuero and Female Argentine Paleta Location: Fronton at the Parque Pereyra Iraola. Centenario Street.

-13:00hs, Delegate Lunch. Place: Cancha, sports complex, Basque club restaurant.

-19 a 21hs, Basque choir meeting with Denak Bat from Cañuelas, Euskal Etxea in San Nicolas, Euskaltzaleak in Buenos Aires, and Euzko Etxea in la Plata. Place: Golden Room in the city of La Plata. Calle 12 – 51 and 53. 1* Floor.

-20:30hs, Tribute to Basque work: meeting organized jointly with the Union Industrial Argentina subsidiary of Gran La Plata and the municipality of La Plata. The work of Basque or the Basque community-related companies will be recognized:: Bodega Goyenechea, Basque Culinary Center, BATSA S.A., Euskal Abereak, AMPO, BIO-BRANDSEN S.A. of Hernán Cruchaga, and ORKLY. Location: República de los Niños. General Belgrano Street, corner of Calle 500. Gonnet.

-21:30hs, Annual dinner of the Union Industrial Argentina subsidiary of Gran La Plata. Location: Domo. República de los Niños. General Belgrano Street, corner of Calle 500. Gonnet.

-22:00hs, Dinner: Kantu Afaria. Place: Cancha, Basque club restaurant.

-23:30hs, Basque music by musicians from various Basque clubs and the Basque Country.  Dance. Location: Toki Alai Hall. .

Saturday November 8

-8:00hs, Delegate Reception / Delegate Breakfast. Place: Event Room Basque Club/ Restaurant.  Accompaniment of delegations to their lodging.

-9:30 a 11:30hs, FEVA meeting followed by a reception for Basque Government authorities, specifically, Cristina Uriarte Toledo, Minister of Education, Linguistic Policy and Culture; Maria Angeles Elorza Zubiria, Secretary General of Foreign Action; Asier Vallejo Itsaso, Director of the Basque Community Abroad; and Sara Pagola Aizpiri, Delegate of Euskadi in Argentina-Mercosur: Location: Republica de los Niños..

-11:30hs, International Pelota Tournament organized in conjunction with the World Council of Basque Pelota and Sports Associations. Participating countries: Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Euskadi and Argentina. Modalities: Female Argentine Paleta Location: Fronton at the Parque Pereyra Iraola. Centenario Street

-11:40hs, Presentation of the Eusko Diaspora Project, by Maialen Zamponi, from Eusko Ikaskuntza Iparralde. Location: Casa del Teatro room. República de los Niños

-9 a 13hs, 16º National Basque Library meeting, attended by Lic. Carolina Bergaglio, who will talk about ‘Conserving Paper,’ and Lic. Guillermo Gubitosi, who will talk about ‘Library Marketing. Location: Basque club.

-10:00hs, Dance group meeting. Location: Basque club.

-12:30 a 17hs, Euskera stand. Location: Members’ dining room. Basque club.

-13:00hs, Delegate luncheon. Location: Basque club.

-15:00hs, Talk on “Networks for Independence” by Txutxi Ariznabarreta. Location Events room at the Basque club.

-17:00hs, Kalejira. Location: From the club Plaza Moreno (53 & 13) through 12th street to 58th, to the Athens Club.

-19:00hs, Evening of dances. Recognitions

• Basque Government will recognize Mikel Ezkerro and Isidro Legarreta for their contribution to the development of the Basque community and the dissemination of the Basque culture in Argentina.  They will be recognized by Cristina Uriarte, Minister of Education, Linguistic Policy and Culture.
• The Euzko Etxea Basque Club will recognize EuskalKultura.com for its more than 10 year career working as a means of communication between the Basque country and the Diaspora, open to the society as a whole. Location: Athens Club.

-22:00hs, Kantu Afaria – Dinner. Location: Basque club.

-24:00hs, Concert by “Itzarren Semsank.” Dance. Place: Toki Alai Room, Basque club.

Sunday November 9

-10:30hs, Mass. Place: Chapel “Our Lady of Mercy”. Republica de los Niños.  .

-11:30hs, Dancing. Place: Football field. Republica de los Niños.

-13:00hs, Closing banquet. Awards ceremony for the Euskera and Pelota contests.  Acknowledgements: Place: Domo. Republica de los Niños.

-17:00hs, Delegation Farewell. 

Addresses:

-Centro Cultural “Islas Malvinas”: Calle 19, entre 50 & 51
-Salón Cultural “Bernardino Rivadavia”: calle 7 N° 755 (between 47 & 48)
-República de los Niños: General Belgrano Street, Corner of Calle 500. Gonnet
-Athens Club: 13th Street, between 58 & 59