Barcelona celebrates Sant Jordi 2014
North American crime fiction writer Donna Leon will deliver the Inaugural Address on the 22nd of April as a prelude to the traditional day of books and roses
At 7pm on Tuesday the 22nd of April, Donna Leon will deliver the official Sant Jordi Inaugural Address in the Saló de Cent de l’Ajuntament. The North American author, known for her hard-boiled detective novels, will debate the values of reading with Óscar López in an event which, over the years, has witnessed the presence of personalities such as José Saramago, Emili Teixidor, José Luis Sampedro and Raimon.
On the same day, various cultural institutions of the Vila de Gràcia district have organised a Book Exchange Market. Up until the 22nd of April, whoever so desires is encouraged to take books in good condition (not text books) to their corresponding library, where they will be exchanged for vouchers. On the 22nd, from 5 pm to 7 pm in the district’s plazas and in front of the Biblioteca Jaume Fuster, these vouchers may be exchanged for books that have been collected during the initiative.
The following day, as with every year, the Sant Jordi celebrations will take place principally at street level, where roses and books take pride of place and meeting points for readers and authors are established along Les Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia.
The Ateneu de Barcelona will celebrate Sant Jordi with an open day and a series of cultural activities including, readings, photography competitions and a campaign entitled “¡Per Sant Jordi, salvad un libro!” (Save a book for Sant Jordi!), while L’Auditori will host a concert by violinist Pinchas Zuckerman accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Via social networks, Barcelona Cultura will be following both the inaugural address and the events of Sant Jordi, declared World Book and Copyright Day by UNESCO in 1995.