Teamwork Arts, organizers of the Jaipur Literature Festival and the JLF international editions, is all set to host the first JLF Valladolid Spain, scheduled from 1-4 June 2023. A curtain raiser celebratory evening to announce the launch of JLF Valladolid Spain was recently hosted by Spanish Ambassador to India, Jose Maria Ridao, festival producer and managing director of Teamwork Arts Sanjoy K. Roy, and festival co-director Namita Gokhale, at the Ambassador’s residence.
The Jaipur Literature Festival, held annually in the Pink City of Jaipur, is a riot of color, energy, ideas, and music against a backdrop of readings, discussions, and debates. JLF Valladolid Spain will bring together an array of writers, thinkers, artists, and poets to engage in stimulating dialogues and conversations on subjects ranging from fashion and design, history, visual art to literary fiction and poetry. JLF Valladolid Spain will be the 10th international extension of the much-loved festival.
JLF Spain Valladolid will embody the multi-faceted spirit of the Jaipur Festival and become a bridge between the diverse and vibrant literature of Spain and India. It will bring writers from these two flourishing cultures under one umbrella in a dynamic literary, artistic, and linguistic dialogue in English and Spanish – in Valladolid, a city that boasts one of the finest Indian cultural centers globally, the Casa de la India. The sessions will be concentrated on topics such as architecture and sustainability, history, poetry, travel writing, fiction, adaptations, geopolitics and the world order, mysticism and music and many more.
Jose Maria Ridao said, “It’s an honor for Spain to be the first non-English speaking country to be selected as an official host of the most important literature festival of India. I am sure the Spanish edition of JLF will be a great success for Spain and India, giving a large platform to our artists, writers and intellectuals.’’
The Indian Ambassador to Spain, Dinesh K Patnaik, said that JLF Valladolid Spain will play a significant role in strengthening the cultural ties between India and Spain. “The event will offer a dynamic literary, artistic, and linguistic dialog in English and Spanish, providing a unique platform for writers from both nations to exchange ideas and perspectives. We believe that this festival will go a long way in promoting the rich cultural and literary heritage of both the nations.”
Roy said they are delighted to announce JLF Valladolid Spain. “It will be our first festival in the Latin-speaking world and will allow us access to amazing writers from Spain, and the Caribbean and South America. We are delighted to build a new platform for an exchange of ideas.”
Gokhale said the depth and resilience of Spanish literature and culture, and its vast footprint, finds deep resonance in India. “This is surely the beginning of a long journey together.”
William Dalrymple, historian, writer and festival co-director, said, “Spain is one of my favorite destinations anywhere in the world, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that JLF has a new home there.”
