euskalkultura.eus

Madrid and Paris are two cities that share the presence of numerous Basques in both, with both having Basque clubs.  Maria Gainzarain is originally from Vitoria-Gasteiz but resides in Madrid, and is a member of the Basque club there. 

Joseba Etxarri.   Twenty two years ago Maria Gainzarain left Vitoria-Gasteiz, her hometown, to move to Madrid, initially to “study and return,” although as frequently happens, her plans took a life of their own and Maria met her husband, “a boy from Madrid with grandparents in Vitoria; I married him and the same year I had planned on returning home, but instead I stayed.”  Maria is now the mother of Itziar and German, her children who are 14 and 9, and has participated for nearly a year “now that the children allow me more time” in the board of directors of the Madrid Euskal Etxea.

You studied Drama and Theater Direction, as well as script writing at the CEV, the Superior School of Communication in Madrid, even though you have worked at many things while you raised your two children.

-It isn’t easy to split your professional and personal life.  Like you said, I have done a little bit of everything over the years, even taught Spanish, did theater…for years I made do with jobs that allowed me the flexibility to accompany my children in their education.  I worked for five years for Mediaset TV and now, at the end of the year, I am ending my contract with Antena 3 TV getting ready for the New Year’s Eve Gala.  On the other hand, for some time club president Julio Elejalde, asked me to join the board of directors of the club so that finally, this year I called him and told him yes. So from last January onward, I have been there lending a hand.

Are there as many Basques in Madrid as they say?

-I think so.  When I moved to Madrid, and we moved to our current neighborhood, at one point I started to think and realize that our neighbor was like me from Vitoria and that the one above us was from Bilbao.  In Madrid I have met many friends from the Basque Country and I have many friends from Euskadi.  There are many Basques.  I think that there is a very positive perception of us and that we are well-considered.

Have they changed your last name of misspelled or mispronounced it?

-Many times.  At one time, always and think that mine it is one of the easiest, but I would also say that it happens less frequently than before.  It was a lot worse when I first arrived.  Since it wasn’t common for them they would become impatient when they red it.  My father told me that it comes from the area of Beasain, in Gipuzkoa. In the world of soccer, here and in South America, it was a well-known last name at one time. 

At the beginning of the month of December the Basque Club organized a circuit of Fine Arts in Madrid and a solidarity concert with the folk group Korrontzi and Euskal Etxea's dancers…

-Two hundred and twenty people gathered at the concert whose proceeds were for the Sanfilippo Foundation.  I connected with Naiara Gomez de Andoin from Bilbao on social media and we took advantage of a visit she made to Madrid to meet.  She talked to us about this illness and how it has affected her three children and the need for funds to advance research.  From there I proposed the event to the club’s board of directs. They were already organizing a concert with Korrontzi but we organized it as a fundraiser.  Everyone was in agreement, Korrontzi, the Basque club dancers, the Fine Arts Theater and everyone who participated.  The function was very successful and it gathered 50 musicians, dancers and artists on stage.  The people gave them a standing ovation.

How is the Madrid Basque club going?

-We are working hard on improving and increasing the number of our activities.  Last Monday we held a txistorrada for Santo Tomas and now we are welcoming the Olentzero, have organized a photo exhibit and a Christmas concert.  As always, we will continue with Basque classes, the choir and celebrating all the traditional events, along with various exhibits, but we are now coming into a time of renewal and a new dynamic of open doors.  The txoko is now open all the time and we want Basques to feel at home here, Basques living in Madrid as others visiting from the Basque Country and the Diaspora.  We are in the heart of the city and our halls are open for Basque musicians, writers, artists and creators in general to present themselves to the Madrid audience.  We get great satisfaction in welcoming them.  Hau zure etxea da, this is your home. We are waiting for you.