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The Basque culture enjoyed exposure at an important venue in March at the well-known and referential Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  The writer, filmmaker and journalist, Hasier Etxeberria, participated in the Iberian Suite Festival: Global Arts Remix Festival, on March 7 and 8, giving two talks, as well as presenting two documentaries on Basque cooking as part of the Culinary and Film section. 

Washington, DC.   The Etxepare Basque Institute highlighted the importance with which the Basque Culture was treated at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  Writer, filmmaker and journalist, Hasier Etxeberria, participated in the Iberian Suite: Global Arts Remix Festival, on March 7 and 8, by giving two talks as well as presenting two documentaries on Basque cuisine.  The program was part of the Culinary and Film section and was made possible by the Etxepare Basque Institute.

During his talk on March 7, Hasier Etxeberria wanted to highlight the cultural richness of Euskal Herria, despite it being small – as all inhabitants of the Basque Country could fit in Brooklyn -- its culture, language, art and gastronomy are very noteworthy and have had an important role in the formation of our collective identity.  Following, a film by Francisco Javier Gutierrez and Jon Arregui Euskadi: Cooking at the Summit was shown.  To conclude Etxeberria answered questions from the large audience in a lively discussion that aroused much interest. 

At the March 8 event Juan Mari Arzak, great Basque chef and a documentary about him Juan Mari Arzak: The World is One House, were featured.  Etxeberria again addressed the audience to share his reflection on the significance of Arzak’s work, in an interesting and sometimes emotional exhibit.  The audience followed his words with interest and enjoyed the documentary that followed, directed by Etxeberria himself.  After the film, another animated debate took place with the audience in the Family Theater at the Kennedy Center.  

Arzak was also the focus in Miami, on March 11, where hs received the Presidential Medal from the Miami Dade College, an auspicious award for the Basque Culinary Center with the help of the Etxepare Basque Institute.  Besides Juan Mari Arzak himself, along with his family, also attending the event were the director of the BCC Joxe Mari Aizega, and the director of the Etxepare Basque Institute, Aizpea Goenaga, as well as Mari Jose Olaziregi, Director for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language at the Institute.