Santander and Egypt: public diplomacy and cultural cities
Santander City Council, in collaboration with the Atalayar media and the Academy of Diplomacy, is organising the 3rd Edition of the International Seminar "Public Diplomacy and Cultural Cities: Shared Experiences" at the Palacio de la Magdalena.
The course is divided into a series of lectures and round tables with speakers and content structured around three themes: the presence of different countries represented by their embassies to share their experiences in the implementation of cultural city projects and their international promotion; the presence of representatives of local and private institutions involved in the cultural project of Santander; and the debate between cultural managers and journalists specialising in international reality and intercultural relations. It also aims to set up networks of connection between local cultural managers, creators and companies with the countries participating in the different conferences.
This year 2022 the meeting will take place on 3 and 4 October with the presence of Egypt and Ireland, as the main protagonists in the event hosted by Santander.
The media Atalayar proposes for this third seminar the presence of the Egyptian Embassy in Spain to share different cultural experiences that take place in the North African country and that, in addition, coincide this year with the commemoration of the anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The Egyptian delegation will speak on the second day of the series, 4 October, with the participation of Youssef Mekkawy, Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt in Spain, Sabah Abdel Razek, Director of the Cairo Museum, Eva Fernández, Director General of Culture of Santander City Council, Miriam Seco, Egyptologist at the University of Seville, Roberto Ontañón, Director of the MUPAC, Guillermo Balbona, head of the Culture section of the Diario Montañés, Paz Delgado, representative of the Menéndez Pelayo Library, the cultural attaché of the Egyptian Embassy, and Javier Martín Domínguez, correspondent and former president of the International Press Club, together with the mayoress of Santander, Gema Igual, and Javier Fernández Arribas, director of Atalayar.
For its part, the Academy of Diplomacy proposes for this third seminar the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland in Spain as the main guest actor for the first of the two days, on 3 October, coinciding this year with the anniversary of the publication of James Joyce's "Ulysses", one of the emblematic works of 20th century literature.
The seminar will be chaired by José María Peredo Pombo, Professor of International Communication and Politics at the European University of Madrid, Javier Fernández Arribas, journalist and director of the magazine Atalayar, and Santiago Velo de Antelo, President of the Academy of Diplomacy and director of the magazine Diplomacia del Siglo XXI.
Programme of the III Edition of the International Seminar "Public Diplomacy and Cultural Cities: Shared Experiences":
Dates: 3 and 4 October 2022
Place: Palacio de la Magdalena, Santander.
I Day: 3 October
10.00. Inauguration of the Seminar.
Gema Igual, Mayoress of Santander
Cultural Counsellor of Ireland
Santiago Velo de Antelo, President of the Academy of Diplomacy
10.30. Round Table: Literary Cities: Dublin-Santander
Presenter: Eva Guillermina Fernández, Director General for Culture, Santander City Council.
Participants: Alejandro Gándara, writer, Luis Guerra, Professor of Spanish Language, and Fernando Abascal, Professor of Literature.
11.45. Coffee break
12.00 Round Table: Art, Galleries and Collecting
Presented by: Juan Antonio González Fuentes, director of the Lafuente Archive.
Participants: Juan González de Riancho, gallery owner and director of Arte Santander, Bárbara Rodríguez, director of exhibitions at Centro Botín, and Jaime Sordo, collector.
13.30 Closing
14.00 Institutional Lunch
2nd Conference: 4 October
10.00 Inauguration
Gema Igual, Mayoress of Santander
Youssef Mekkawy, Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt in Spain
Javier Fernández Arribas, Director of Atalayar
10.30: Lecture: Cairo Museum: culture in modern Egypt
Presented by: Javier Fernández Arribas, Director of Atalayar
Participants: Sabah Abdel Razek, Director of the Cairo Museum
11.00: Round Table: Antiquity and Prehistory as a Cultural Brand
Presenter: Eva Fernández, Director General of Culture, Santander City Council
Participants: Miriam Seco, Egyptologist at the University of Seville, and Roberto Ontañón, director of the MUPAC.
12.00 Coffee break
12.15 Round Table: Libraries and Cities
Presented by: Guillermo Balbona, head of the Culture section of the Diario Montañés newspaper.
Participants: Paz Delgado, representative of the Menéndez Pelayo Library, cultural attaché of the Embassy of Egypt, and Javier Martín Domínguez, correspondent and former president of the International Press Club.
13.45 Closing Seminar
14.00 Institutional Lunch
