The Association of the friends of Bertsolaritza History 1991-1996

History: 1991-1996

Responding to the great prestige achieved by the bertsolaritza art form in Basque society at large, new projects were initiated. This had a direct impact on the economic situation of the association and provoked some moments of conflict:

• In 1991 three new employees were contracted to work for the Association
• In 1991 the Xenpelar Documentation Centre was established in premises ceded by the Kutxa Savings Bank
• Between 1991 and 1993 the Siadeco company carried out a study on the public interest in bertsolaritza
• In 1993 the National Championship of Bertsolaris was organised
• The Day of the Bertsolari continued to be organised annually but, in 1996, the format and the day were changed. The Day of the Bertsolari came to be a day of tributes – the Day of the Bertso
• In 1993 and 1995 work undertaken by Bertsolamintza think-tanks was published
• In 1995 the association became the Association of the Friends of Bertsolaritza
• Special initiatives were prepared for the training of the teachers for the bertso-schools
• Between 1995-1996 relations between the Association and the Government became difficult: aid dried up, the TV programme was cut and economic difficulties started to bite
• Two of the Association’s employees had to leave and a number of projects could not be undertaken.

History: 1987-1990 1997-2001