Etxepare Institute created to disseminate Basque culture

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Miren Azkarate

The Basque parliament approved unanimously the Law that creates the Basque Institute Etxepare, which will be responsible for disseminating the Basque culture both in Spanish and Basque abroad, although it will promote specially the latter.

The Institute, named after the Basque writer Bernart Etxepare (16th century), will have its headquarters in Donostia-San Sebastian. It will centralise all Basque Government’s programs for the external dissemination of Basque language and culture, and bring the Basque culture closer to the Basque speaking communities in the world.

The Basque Councillor of Culture, Miren Azkarate, explained the aims of the Institute that will place the Basque language and culture "in the world", as the Basque Country "cannot be isolated."

She added both the Spanish and the Basque language are part of the Basque Country’s cultural heritage, although both languages "has not the same opportunities" of propagation. That’s the reason why the Institute will promote both languages, but paying a special attention to the Basque one.