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Over 450 Basque Cultural Figures Denounce "Exclusion" of GKS and Others from Bilbao and Vitoria Festivities

Prominent figures from the Basque cultural scene have expressed their opposition to the exclusion of Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista and other groups from the txosnas at Bilbao and Vitoria's festivals.

Generic image: artists in a protest, advocating for festival participation.
IA

Generic image: artists in a protest, advocating for festival participation.

More than 450 figures from the Basque cultural scene, including names like Itziar Ituño and Fermin Muguruza, have denounced the "exclusion" of Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista (GKS), the Housing Union, and Luberri Konpartsa from the txosnas at the festivals in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.

According to the platform 'Bada Garaia', cultural referents such as Josu Zabala, Eñaut Elorrieta, Pantxoa eta Peio, Evaristo, Uxue Alberdi, Fermin Valencia, Amets Arzallus, Toti Martínez de Lezea, and Miren Agur Meabe have also joined the petition.
'Bada Garaia, artistok denontzako jaien alde' (It's time, artists for festivals for everyone), launched a few weeks ago, brings together hundreds of Basque artists who believe they "are also part of the festivals" and "live with concern the exclusion of several agents" from both Bilboko Konpartsak and the Txosnas Commission of Gasteiz.
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"From here we want to appeal to Bilboko Konpartsak and the Txosnas Commission of Gasteiz to ask them to sit down with the excluded agents and, please, put an end to this situation."

Javier Jorajuria and Maixa · Member of the group J Martina and artist
This past Thursday, the Kafe Antzokia in Bilbao hosted a festival featuring the artists behind the initiative's song: Kiliki, Mirua, Maixa, and Malakias. Before the concert concluded, Javier Jorajuria and Maixa asserted that popular festivals are "indispensable spaces for artists and for all citizens", where "everyone must be present".
They recalled that two years ago, 150 Basque artists joined a similar initiative, but the situation is "so absurd" that this time adhesions are approaching five hundred. "More than 450 artists have united to say loud and clear that popular festivals belong to everyone," reiterated the organizers.
The Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista (GKS) and the Housing Union of Gasteiz have reported that a "political veto" remains in place, preventing the socialist movement from participating in the txosnas of the Vitoria-Gasteiz festivities for another year. This ban has been in effect for six years, and as a protest, they have organized a program and a txosna at the Faculty of Arts.
The collectives have stated that they have attempted to resolve the situation and foster dialogue for months, even with a mediation proposal from HalaBedi, yet they have been excluded again this year. They believe that the situation in the txosnas "is part of the strategy of the left abertzale to sideline the socialist movement".

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