The aim of this initiative is to bring to citizens the importance of this fundamental text, considered one of the pillars of Basque self-government, democracy, and the identity of the Historical Territory. The proposal is structured into two distinct exhibitions to reach diverse audiences.
On one hand, the Foral Library will host in its Noble Hall, until the end of August, a technical and scientific exhibition, aimed at specialists and researchers. Among its most notable pieces is the original copy of the New Charter of Bizkaia (1526).
On the other hand, an itinerant exhibition has been launched on Bilbao's Gran Vía, designed for the general public, with an accessible and visual layout. This exhibition will also be present in metro stations and will tour various municipalities, seeking to bring the relevance of this historical legacy closer to citizens.
“"Remembering the past only makes sense, true value, when we are able to understand it and make it understandable for society as a whole. Hence the importance of dissemination, of bringing these texts, these ideas, and this legacy closer to citizens, of making it accessible and useful to interpret who we are today."
The content of the exhibitions reviews key moments such as the approval of the New Charter in 1526 under the Tree of Gernika and its subsequent confirmation by Charles I in 1527. Likewise, advanced concepts for its time are highlighted, such as universal nobility or habeas corpus. Under the motto “Izan zirelako gara” (“Because they were, we are”), the commemoration emphasizes that Bizkaia's own political system is based on the right of its citizens to govern themselves.
