The Logroño City Council has organized a complete program of activities to commemorate International Book Day, which is celebrated on April 23. A day that, as the mayor of Logroño has stated, “is undoubtedly a special occasion that invites us to reflect on the importance of reading and literature in our lives and, from the local government, we have organized numerous activities that “They will take place in different parts of our city to promote reading, storytelling and writing.”
Thus, the mayor of the capital of Rioja has highlighted two of the activities that this year will focus on the celebration of this anniversary and that will take place on April 23. Escobar recalled that, “in January, when the XXV De Buena Fuente Prize for Short Storytelling was awarded, we already announced our commitment to publishing a book in which all the winning stories from the 25 years of this prestigious award would be compiled and today we can confirm that this book is now a reality.” The book that will be presented on April 23 collects the 22 award-winning stories in the 25 editions of the contest. “This copy is a testimony to literary talent, a tribute to the creativity and ingenuity of many citizens and is, furthermore, an example of the commitment of this City Council to enhance our hallmarks,” he added.
The new Plaza de los Cuentos
Furthermore, Escobar has announced that “the decision has been made to name the square located next to the Rafael Azcona Library and, without a doubt, we were all clear that it had to be a name that paid tribute to literature and, specifically, to the one aimed at the little ones in the house. In this way, ‘Plaza Los Cuentos’ will be a space dedicated to the magic of narrative, a place where words come to life and stories take shape. This gesture symbolizes our commitment to promoting reading and fostering an enriching cultural environment for all Logroño residents.”
Finally, the mayor of Logroño has launched an invitation to all citizens to actively participate in all cultural proposals that will be carried out in our city over the next few days, which are aimed at all audiences, and has encouraged them to enjoy fully of this literary celebration. Activities distributed in spaces such as the Rafael Azcona library, the reading points of La Rosaleda or La Pajarera, the old bus station, the Rioja Culture Center, the auditorium, Gota de Leche or municipal play libraries.
International Book Day Programming
From April 15 to 20
- XXVI Spanish Poetry Conference. This new appointment with poetry, which maintains the commitment of previous editions with the genre and literature written in Spanish, takes place in municipal spaces such as the Rafael Azcona Library, the Rioja Culture Center and the column room of the old bus station. The next appointments are:
- ‘New poetry in La Rioja’ (April 16. 7:00 p.m. Rafael Azcona Library). Presentation of the second issue of ‘Lares’ and reading of several poems and musical performance (guitar and voice) by Nicolás Santolaya Sancha.
- ‘Reading poems’ (April 17. 7:00 p.m. Rafael Azcona Library). The poet Francisco Ferrer Lerín will offer a dialogue reading of his texts.
- ‘Tribute to Arturo Pascual’ (April 18. 7:00 p.m. CCR). Presentation of the book ‘Manual de eternity’, by the Riojan poet Arturo Pascual.
- ‘Reading poems’ (April 19, 7:00 p.m., Rafael Azcona Library). By Ioana Gruia, a poet who has published, among others, the books of poems ‘The light that lights up the body’, ‘Carousel’ and ‘The sun in the fruit’.
- ‘Reading poems’ (April 20. 1:00 p.m. CCR). Offered by the author María Martínez Bautista.
Friday April 19
- Children’s meeting ‘We grow in Equality’. La Atalaya Children’s Youth Center, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the occasion of Book Day during the months of March and April, boys and girls from 8 to 11 years old who have attended the municipal play centers and the La Atalaya center have been proposed to write short stories with the aim of continuing to promote education that allows us to advance in equality. The contest had 40 participants whose works have been valued and will receive different prizes during this meeting. In addition, the party will be completed with a performance by the Peloponnesian Theater Company, which will adapt several stories focusing on the promotion of egalitarian values.
Sunday April 21
- Concert by the band Música de Logroño ‘Music and literature. Day of the book’. In the Municipal Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. This is a musical-literary tribute in which four musical works will be presented that are based on essential books of universal literature. Specifically, they are inspired by ‘The Story of the Trojan Horse’ which comes from Greek mythology; ‘Don Quixote of La Mancha’ by Miguel de Cervantes; ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ written by the Italian author Carlo Collodi and, finally, ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift. Admission to attend this concert is free until capacity is reached.
Monday, 22 April
- Inauguration of the exhibition ‘The illustrated library of Manuel Romero’. At the Rafael Azcona Library at 12:00 p.m. The Illustrated Library is an artistic, educational and cultural project that this year focuses on the work of Manuel Romero, an illustrator and painter born in Ribafrecha. The exhibition is reinforced with an annual graphic related to reading and books made by this artist. Free guided tours of the exhibition will be organized for groups, schools and cultural associations that request it and can be visited individually without an appointment.
- Theater tribute to the writer María de O Lejárraga. Patio de la Gota de Leche at 7:00 p.m. With free entry and until capacity is reached, anyone who wishes will be able to enjoy a magnificent play by the Teatro Pobre IES La Laboral company who will stage the work of this great Riojan writer ‘The virtues of her work are not useful to her. mother’. After the performance, a talk was organized with Juan Aguilera and Isabel Lizárraga to delve into her work.
Tuesday April 23
- Public reading of poems. In ‘La Rosaleda’ from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Schools, associations and entities related to culture and education in Logroño will be invited to meet at the La Rosaleda reading point to read poems aloud.
- Inauguration of the ‘Plaza Los Cuentos’ and presentation of the book ‘De Buena Fuente. Anthology (1986-2024)’. Exterior of the Rafael Azcona Library at 11:30 am. Around the inauguration of the square, a literary party has been organized where, in addition to the reading of poems by two students from Logroño, there will also be a performance by ‘Rioja Filarmonía’. In addition, it will be the moment in which the book with the winning stories of the Short Narration Prize from Good Source is presented. This is an edition with the 22 stories awarded in these 25 editions of the contest.
- Opening of the reading point ‘La Pajarera’. On the occasion of this anniversary, the reading point in Parque del Carmen, popularly known as ‘La Pajarera’, resumes its activity and will be open until September 30. This open-air literary space has newspapers and books for adults and, especially, children. Likewise, on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 12:00 p.m., different initiatives to encourage reading, creativity workshops and knowledge of the surroundings of Parque del Carmen will be carried out for all audiences. There will also be oral storytelling sessions and other activities to encourage reading.
- Theater by the Empty Stage Company. At 7:00 p.m. La Gota de Leche will host the work ‘Los extrantes de ESO’ by José Sanchís Sinisterra. A youth comedy that offers us the opportunity to reflect on the paradoxes of individual and collective freedom. Free entry until complete seats.
Thursday 25
- Japanese binding workshops ‘Discreet notebook’. They will take place in the ArteFábrica Room from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is aimed at children in 5th and 6th grade. They will allow you to learn the basic fundamentals of rustic binding that first emerged in the 19th century. It requires prior registration and has 6 places.
- ‘The Pleasures of April’. At the Rioja Culture Center at 7:00 p.m. This activity aims to enhance the enjoyment of reading as a perfect complement to wine culture. On this occasion, it is a conversation between Jaime de los Santos and Rosa Fernández in which we will talk about wine, culture and literature. Admission is free until capacity is reached.
Saturday April 27, 2024
- Japanese binding workshops ‘Discreet notebook’. They will take place in the ArteFábrica Room from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is aimed at adults aged 20 and over. They will allow you to learn the basic fundamentals of rustic binding that first emerged in the 19th century. It requires prior registration and has 6 places.
- ‘Market tales’, with the Binomio Teatro company. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Rafael Azcona Library. For all audiences from 3 years old. Bright fish, colorful fruits, diverse smells, peculiar sounds, very confident merchants, and between a quarter and a half of whatever it is, this shopkeeper will delight your ears with her stories.
- ‘Protas’, with the Binomio Teatro company. At the La Rosaleda Reading Point (Paseo del Espolón) from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For adult audiences from 14 years old. When you start a move you never know when or how it will end. The boxes will be opened with the complicity of the public and the secrets hidden in a few items will be discovered.
- ‘A night at the library’. The Rafael Azcona Library proposes spending a night in its facilities enjoying activities that will make this initiative even more suggestive. At 8:30 p.m., guests will have their dinner on the street taking advantage of the interactive installation brought to us by Concentric 2024 ‘Basic forms (of urban life)’ by Raivio Bumann. At 9:30 p.m. a family Gymkhana has been organized, designed to discover the secrets and depths of the library and overcome the most unexpected challenges as a group. Starting at 11:00 p.m., Sleep among books! At 8:00 in the morning, guests will be dismissed with breakfast again on the street.
Sunday April 28, 2024.
- Route of Equality ‘The creators. Women and culture’. It starts at 12:00 p.m. and to participate it is necessary to download the free entry online. This visit will address the history of some Rioja women who have influenced La Rioja, writers and creators, but also those who opened the way for Rioja athletes. During the tour we will talk about Ana María Matute, Pilar Gutiérrez Arizcuri, Emilia Pardo Bazán, Concepción Arenal, María Teresa León and current Rioja creators such as Carmen Medrano, Begoña Abad, Sonia San Román and Carmen Beltrán. On some of the visits there will be the presence of one of these writers.
