BASQUE CULTURAL DAY 2021

Bakartasuna Elkartuz  |  On Our Own Together

On October 23, 2021, the BEO hosted its first ever virtual Basque Cultural Day. If you missed it, no worries – everything you need to know, and want to watch, is below.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

INTRODUCTION

Hi, everyone! 

My name is Anna Marie Etcheverria and I am a very proud board member of the Basque Educational Organization, also affectionately known as the BEO. I am joined here by my cohost and fellow Board member, Yvonne Hauscarriague-Seevers.

We are so excited to be here, we’re excited you’re here, and we’re honored and privileged to bring an event with an incredible panel of presenters into your living rooms, community centers, classrooms, bathrooms, wherever you’re watching us from! 

For those of you who are not familiar with the BEO, we are a nonprofit charitable organization who is committed to discovering ways to educate people about the Basque culture through literary, visual, and performing arts. We’re excited about the future as we further commit ourselves to continuing conversations. We’re listening to the needs and wants of both artists and the interests from Basque communities all over. Here at the BEO we celebrate the courage of creativity in all forms and recognize there’s much to be learned about our culture from and through creativity.

They say it takes a village to raise a child and to put together a webinar. It’s true. Today wouldn’t have happened without the time and dedication of our Board of Directors, especially the Basque Cultural Day committee, the time commitments the presenters made for us (which I’m sure felt endless times), and the support and cheerleading we received from you, the BEO supporters. So, thank you.

I want to take a quick moment to also acknowledge a very special person to the BEO, Franxoa Bidarrueta – a founding member who’s commitment to the BEO and its mission has remained unflinching. After serving for 37 years, he recently hung up his BEO hat. Franxoa, from all of us on the Board, current Board members and former, thank you for all you have done for the BEO. Your contributions are countless and engrained in what defines who we are today. We hope you’re enjoying BEO retirement. Milesker!

Now, for the show.

VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

*Hover over the images to watch the actual presentations, plus some quick and amusing Proust-like interviews with the presenters.

THE AUTHOR OF GERNIKAKO ARBOLA: A CROSS BETWEEN WOODY GUTHRIE, WALT WHITMAN AND RUMI

presented by Xabier Irujo and David Romtvedt

The Basques: Art Imitating Life

presented by Larraitz Ariznabarreta

Black is Beltza:  A Journey through Civil Unrest

presented by Nic Smith

Basque Music: Not just What Your Amatchi Used to Play

presented by Mikaela Goicoechea

*We will be sprinkling in some words from our scholarship winners, and some other surprise guests who will guide us on how to make cocktails for the day.

A VIEWING PARTY? Great idea!