THIS year, the UK's largest festival of Catalan arts, literature and culture is taking place in Scotland and across the UK, between March and June.
The Institut Ramon Llull – the public organisation promoting Catalan language and culture internationally – will present Spotlight on Catalan Culture, beginning on March 29.
The line-up encompasses an extensive programme inspired by the literature, language, arts, history and creativity of Catalan, and will feature author talks, circus and theatre performances, poetry readings, art exhibitions, history talks, film screenings, jazz concerts, digital projects bridging literature and film, translation workshops, and publishing masterclasses for university students.
READ MORE: Line of Duty reunion: Adrian Dunbar has audience in stitches with THAT line
Twenty-five events will be held across the country, from Edinburgh to Exeter, taking place in independent bookshops to concert halls and lecture theatres.
As a public institution devoted to extending the reach of Catalan language and culture, the Institut Ramon Llull provides aid to authors, translators, publishers and literary agents to ensure that Catalan literature is translated, published and read abroad – the festival is designed to introduce the general public to the richness of this Catalan culture and heritage, and showcase the offering of artists, authors and performers from Catalan-speaking territories.
Pere Almeda, director of the Institut Ramon Llull, said: “The Spotlight programme is an answer to many years of an enriching exchange between the Catalan and British cultural landscapes. It is a great opportunity for Catalan culture to be featured with all its potential and strength in the context of international cultural dialogue.”
READ MORE: Review: Van Gogh Alive arrives in Edinburgh but lacks substance
Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: "We’re delighted to partner with Institut Ramon Llull and the Centre de Cultura Contemporànea de Barcelona on this exciting project. Strengthening creative collaboration between Film London and IRL, the Spotlight programme connects talent from both regions to tell bold and diverse stories through the medium of moving image.
"The six filmmakers we’ve commissioned are rising stars with urgent, distinctive voices. We hope to build on this partnership in the future and look forward to showcasing our filmmakers’ work with audiences throughout the UK and beyond."
For more information, visit the Spotlight website.
The programme is curated in collaboration with literary organisations including Literature Across Frontiers, Wales Literature Exchange, UNESCO Cities of Literature Exeter and Manchester, Marx Memorial Library, European Poetry Festival; independent bookshops Brick Lane Bookshop, Burley Fisher Books, Bookbag Bookshop and Foyles Charing Cross, and publishers Granta, Fitzcarraldo, And Other Stories, Fum d’Estampa among others.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here