The Piztu Plaza festival was presented today, Tuesday, at a press conference held in Kulturate. This initiative seeks to encourage young people to transition from passive spectators to active creators, providing them with a space for creation in Basque. Nekane Artola, president of Ikastolen Elkartea, emphasized that young people are also the present, and therefore it is important to offer them opportunities to create in Basque.
“"We often mention that, on the one hand, young people are the future, but we are clear that they are also the present and that they are building the present. We know they need spaces to create in Basque, and that is what we have done; we, the adults, have offered them resources and support and have put the responsibility of the organization in their hands; creating ideas, groups, staging, organization..."
Another fundamental pillar of the initiative is the Basque language, seeking to energize Basque culture in public squares. According to Artola, to contribute to the resurgence of the Basque language, it is essential for it to occupy the squares of Euskal Herria. The decision to hold the festival in Arrasate is due to the work carried out by the students of Arizmendi Ikastola and Arrasate's commitment to the Basque language.
Five ikastolas have been working on organizing the event: Arizmendi Ikastola from Arrasate and Eskoriatza, Aranzadi Ikastola from Bergara, Bernat Etxepare Lizeoa, Ikasberri Ikastola, and Ander Deuna Ikastola. In total, about 70 students have participated in the organizational tasks, with approximately 25 of them being students from the Gaztelupe and Almen campuses of Arizmendi Ikastola.
An extensive program has been prepared for April 25. In Herriko plaza, at 11:00 AM, there will be an opening ceremony by the Almen and Gaztelupe campuses of Arizmendi Ikastola, followed by an elektrotxaranga from Ikasberri Ikastola. In the afternoon, at 6:45 PM, there will be a music concert by Ander Deuna Ikastola, and at 7:00 PM, the closing ceremony. In Biteri plaza, starting at 12:00 PM, there will be theater and musical theater performances by Aranzadi Ikastola and Bernat Etxepare Lizeoa. In the Kulturola tunnel, at 2:00 PM, there will be a popular meal, and at 4:30 PM, improvisation dynamics.
