As we did on April 15 at Euskararen Etxea in Bilbao, today we presented the BIHAR project at Borderline Fabrika in Hendaia, an initiative that places narratives and discourses on language revitalization at the center. This initiative will be developed and presented through the International Congress that will take place between Bilbao, Irun and Hendaia from September 23 to 26.
As of today, registration to attend the congress is officially open on the website https://bihar.eus/.
Several organizations are involved in this initiative: Soziolinguistika Klusterra, Taupa Euskaltzaleen Mugimendua, Plazara Kolektiboa and Garabide Elkartea. Those participating in today’s presentation were:
- Imanol Larrea Mendizabal (Soziolinguistika Klusterra)
- Jasone Mendizabal Altuna (Taupa Euskaltzaleen Mugimendua)
- Xan Aire (Plazara Kolektiboa)
- Gorane Ayesta Maidagan and Iñaki Martínez de Luna Pérez de Arriba (Garabide Elkartea)
The BIHAR initiative places minoritised language communities undergoing revitalization processes at the center, focusing on the narratives and discourses surrounding language revitalization. Presented after two years of preparatory work, the project has been structured in three phases: an international diagnosis, a socialization process across the Basque Country, and the International Congress to be held in September.
This is a project of exceptional scale: by placing minoritised language communities from around the world at the center, it focuses on updating the narratives surrounding language revitalization.
The congress program will be as follows:
- September 23, Wednesday (Bilbao, Euskalduna Palace): opening ceremony of the congress
- September 24 and 25 (Thursday and Friday):
- Irun, Ficoba: lectures, round tables and workshops forming the core of the congress
- Hendaia: activities making up the cultural program
- September 26, Saturday (Hendaia): presentation of the manifesto and closing ceremony
As mentioned, the congress will bring to the forefront the lessons, discourses and experiences gathered during the previous two phases (diagnosis and socialization). The congress will conclude with the publication of a participatory declaration and the creation of a new global network.
This project is supported by the following entities: the Basque Agency for Cooperation and Solidarity of the Basque Government, Beasain Town Council, Bilbao City Council, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Department of Culture and Language Policy of the Basque Government, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Euskal Kultur Erakundea, and the Government of Navarre.
More information about the BIHAR initiative is available at: https://bihar.eus
2020 Garabide