Etxepare Basque Institute

The purpose of the Etxepare Basque Institute is to disseminate the most significant manifestations of Basque culture. Its primary objectives are:

• To encourage and promote international recognition of the Basque language.
• To promote the teaching, learning and use of Euskara throughout the world.
• To support research on Basque culture, especially at universities and high-level research centres.
• To inspire curiosity about Basque culture.
• To raise the international profile of cultural projects created in the Basque Country: encourage efforts and actions that benefit dissemination, with emphasis on promoting and ensuring an outlet for cultural undertakings created in Euskara.
• Collaborate with Basque creative talent, stakeholders and producers: offer new opportunities based on needs, open access to international cultural organizations and promoters; the authors are the resource, the institute is the bridge.

In its work to disseminate the Basque language, the Etxepare Basque Institute creates points of contact with other languages and communities and implements learning and research programmes at the international level. Projects in this area include Basque language and culture readership programmes at universities around the world, grants for students enrolled in these courses, Basque studies chairs and teacher training courses, among others.Etxepare has 36 readerships in different countries, plus nine university chairs:

• Bernardo Atxaga Chair: City University of New York
• Jon Bilbao Chair: University of Nevada Reno
• Manuel de Irujo Chair: University of Liverpool
• Koldo Mitxelena Chair: University of Chicago
• Eduardo Chillida Chair: Frankfurt Goethe Universität
• Jean Haritschelhar Chair: Université Bordeaux Montaigne
• Eloise Garmendia Bieter Chair: Boise State University
• William A. Douglass Chair: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Amale Artetxe Chair: CONICET

The institute also participates in high-profile international language forums and other language-related events to raise awareness among public institutions and people from other countries of the Basque language and its current status.

Supporting translation is one of the institute's main lines of work. Every year Etxepare provides grants for translators of Basque literature into foreign languages and manages the Etxepare-LABORAL Kutxa Translation Prize for the year's best translation.

The institute also publishes some booklets on Basque literature and culture in three languages in both paper format and online.

At the Etxepare Basque Institute, the artists themselves play the leading role. The institute is a mediator designed to show the world the creative work being done in the Basque Country, bringing together distinct voices for a sole purpose. To achieve this objective, Etxepare cultivates close relationships with Basque artists and the Basque cultural industry to promote their work in the most appropriate way and build bridges when necessary.

The Institute attends some of the world's most important fairs devoted to education, books, film, theatre and dance, among others, in keeping with its goal to raise the profile of Basque productions and creative endeavours. It sets up meetings, promotes relations between different stakeholders and organizes activities aimed at drawing attention to our culture.

One of the institute's main focuses is collaborating with other stakeholders. The Etxepare Basque Institute continually signs agreements with private organizations and public agencies to develop specific programmes and activities. It undertakes productions and co-productions featured in high-profile cultural venues in different countries, joining forces with local agents. Likewise, the Institute collaborates in various festivals which dedicate a space to Basque culture. One example is the 'Basque Window', a glimpse into Basque cinema, which has been created for certain festivals in the Americas and Europe; another is having Euskadi (the Basque Country) as featured country at music and theatre festivals.

Moreover, the Institute manages grants to promote international exposure to the Basque language and culture. Awarded in the areas of music, performing arts, audiovisuals, literature and visual arts, the grants are aimed at facilitating the participation of Basque artists in professional fairs, as well as encouraging literary translation and covering travel costs.

In its commitment to reciprocity and exchange, the Etxepare Basque Institute's activities are not geared toward publicising Basque culture. However, the Institute assumes its responsibility as a two-way cultural exchange, fostering relationships with other cultures. Along the same lines, it has joined forces with other stakeholders to create residency programmes to allow Basque artists to gain experience and international exposure.

• Vasco, Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno (27 July 2012). "3/2007 LEGEA, apirilaren 20koa, Etxepare Euskal Institutua / Basque Institute Sortzeko eta Arautzekoa". www.legegunea.euskadi.eus (in Basque).
• "221/2008 DEKRETUA, abenduaren 23koa, Etxepare Euskal Institutuaren jardueraren hasierari buruzkoa". www.legegunea.euskadi.eus (in Basque). 26 July 2012.

• Etxepare Basque Institute official website etxepare.eus/en