The autumn programme of #ScotlandGoesBasque in pictures

From October 11 to 20, Euskera and contemporary Basque creation were once again in the news in Scotland. This time the focus was on documentary cinema and the university environment: three documentaries belonging to the Europa Transit project were screened and the University of Edinburgh hosted the international conference "Limited or unlimited Space? Minority languages and media in the digital context. Here is a selection of the best photographs of the latest events in the #ScotlandGoesBasque programme.

From October 11 to 20, Euskera and contemporary Basque creation were once again in the news in Scotland. This time the focus was on documentary cinema and the university environment: three documentaries belonging to the Europa Transit project were screened and the University of Edinburgh hosted the international conference "Limited or unlimited Space? Minority languages and media in the digital context. Here is a selection of the best photographs of the latest events in the #ScotlandGoesBasque programme.

Three of the ten documentaries by Xuban Intxausti for Europa Transit were taken to Scotland. Europa Transit was created as a kind of cultural ambassador developed within the framework of the Donostia / San Sebastian Cultural Capital 2016.

On October 12, the film Kaleko Dantzariak (Street Dancers) was presented at the Scottish Documentary Institute in Edinburgh. The film is the result of an artist-in-residence programme carried out in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, by Sra Polaroiska, an artistic collective made up of Alaitz Arenaza and María Ibarrertxe working with young Roma artists. The collective also brought the performance Lur away to Lauriston Hall, together with Natxo Montero and Myriam Petralanda. Photo gallery. 

On October 17, journalist and bertsolari Amets Arzallus presented the documentary Mugaminak (Common Borders) at St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh. The documentary depicts the consequences of the conflict in Cyprus between the Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots and compares them with the director’s own experiences. Arzallus also gave a talk on bertsolaritza. Photo gallery.

The programme wrapped up on October 20 with a presentation by Maite Arroitajauregi (aka, Mursego) of the documentary Erresilientzia Soinuak (Sounds of Resilience), starring Vedran Smailovic (the ‘Cellist of Sarajevo’). Mursego then gave a concert at the Contemporary Art Centre in Glasgow. Photo gallery.

On October 16 and 17, the conference Limited or Unlimited Space? The media in minority languages in the digital context was held at the University of Edinburgh, organized jointly by Etxepare Basque Institute and the University. The congress brought together researchers and media professionals in minority languages to discuss the challenges and opportunities offered by today’s global communication system, as well as the sociolinguistic situation of minority languages and the role of the media. The minority languages involved in the congress were: Akan, Bosnian, Scottish Gaelic, Scottish, Basque, Frisian, Irish, Yoruba, Cornish, Croatian, Welsh, Dutch, Sardinian, Serbian and Zulu. The following people  travelled from Euskadi to Edinburgh to take part in the Congress: Josu Amezaga, Beñat Muguruza, Garbiñe Bereziartua, Libe Mimenza, Edorta Arana, Joseba Fernandez de Landa, Rodrigo Agerri, Iñaki Alegria, Aida Vallejo, Amaia Nerekan, Elizabete Manterola, Ana Tamayo (University of the Basque Country); Beatriz Narbaiza (Behategia), Enara Eizagirre (Aztiker), Jaione Diaz (University of Maryland), Itziar Azpeitia (ETB) and independent researcher Urtzi Urrutikoetxea. Photo gallery.