euskalkultura.eus

Madrid, Spain.  The Euskarari Gorazarre conference was presented yesterday in Madrid, at an event that took place in the offices of the Delegation of Euskadi there.  The event was attended by three of the institutions backing the event.  Aizpea Goenaga, director of the Etxepare Basque Institute, emphasized the coordination among the institutions in the development of this program, adding that “it is fundamental to give the Basque language the honor and prestige that it is due” and “provide it the exposure that it deserves.”

For his part, Andres Urrutia, president of Euskaltzaindia, noted that the conference will serve to show that Basque “seeks its place in the world of knowledge and new technologies as well as in the daily reality of its use and cultivation” and that it “is a language that is more and more open to a society that presents new linguistic and communication demands.”

Carlos Maria Hernandez, delegate from the RSBAP, added that the program includes “tributes and commemoration of two individuals who were tied to this association as well as to the diffusion of the Basque culture in Madrid,” such as Henrike Knorr, Euskalzain or Basque academic, who passed away in 2008, and Pedro de Yrizar, “researcher and eminent linguist as well as Honorary Academic in Euskaltzaindia.”

Finally, Mari Jose Olaziregi, director of the promotion and diffusion of Euskera of the Etxepare Basque Institute, stressed that “the future of the Basque language, a language currently spoken by nearly a million people in the world, is transmitted by those who are encouraged to learn it” and that is why, “the conference will begin with a meeting with students who are learning Basque as well as with Basque students in Madrid. 

Program activities include a roundtable entitled, “The Creation of the Basque Country: Utopias and Challenges,” in which four writers will participate: Mariasun Landa, Miren Agur Meabe, Arantxa Urretabizkaia, and Eider Rodríguez; and a recital “Katuak eta paradisua,” by Bernardo Atxaga and Jabier Muguruza. In addition, to close the event, the updated version of the show “AT!” will be presented, as it was last year by the Etxepare Institute. 

-Complete Program (pdf), here