The Association of the friends of Bertsolaritza Territories Araba History

History

Although the Association of Friends of Bertsolaritza was founded in May 1993, the pioneering driving force of the recovery process was to be the Vitoria-Gasteiz bertsolaris’ school, which had been created eleven years earlier in 1982 and which was to mark the beginning of a period of special efforts in education and in schools of bertsolaris. Witness to this pioneering work are:

• San Prudencio of Araba contest between 1990 and 2001
• Bertsolaris of Araba Championship. This was first held in 1982 and taken up again in 2002. It is the point of reference currently for Araba bertsolaritza
• Performances in Machete Square during the fiestas of Vitoria-Gasteiz and other initiatives
• The efforts undertaken with the local media to boost bertsolaritza
• Various initiatives undertaken with the Association of Ikastolas (Basque Schools) and various bertsolari schools. An agreement was signed in 1998
• Organisation of the Araba Inter-schools Championship in collaboration with the Association of Ikastolas
• The schools of bertsolaris set up in eight municipalities
• The “Bertsotan Bagare: young bertsolaris’ contest” championship organised in conjunction with the Bagare Association.

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