Between May 3rd and 30th, the Alavese capital and the entire territory will transform into a lively stage for the fourteenth edition of the international Poetas en Mayo festival. This event merges poetry, music, and social commitment with the aim of bringing culture closer to all citizens.
“"We want poetry to be a weapon charged with the future and a real link between the social fabric of our city."
The festival, inclusive and participatory in nature, involves institutions, associations, educational centers, and businesses. This year's program brings together renowned singer-songwriters with the freshest voices in contemporary poetry. The lineup includes artists such as Ismael Serrano, Luis Pastor, the acclaimed poet Antonio Colinas, the young phenomenon Miguel Gane, and poets Magdalena Sánchez Blesa and Leire Vargas, among others.
This edition features the culture of the Arab world as a special guest, with the participation of poets from Iran, Palestine, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The direction has acknowledged the difficulties of the process, due to visa issues, but will ultimately feature five male and one female Arab author.
True to its values, the festival collaborates with nearly twenty social groups such as Berakah, INDESA, and Down Araba, bringing verses to hospitals, residences, and inclusion spaces. Additionally, numerous schools are involved, preparing recitals and denouncing the harshness of war through lyrical journeys.
“"The seed of poetry sows, and it sows something very important, which is the word and understanding through the word."
Iconic events such as Páginas de Cristal, featuring poems in some 200 shop windows, will once again adorn the city. On May 9th, the Plaza de España will host 'A Poem for Peace', where over a hundred poets will release verses into the air on paper doves. The XIV edition strengthens its territorial character with an active presence in the cuadrillas of Álava. Towns such as Amurrio, Agurain, Campezo, Kuartango, and Iruña de Oka will host recitals and gatherings, decentralizing culture and bringing it to rural areas. This ambitious project is made possible thanks to the support of institutions such as the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, the Provincial Council of Álava, the Basque Government, and Vital Fundazioa.
