The General Directorate of Culture and Heritage launches a new conference cycle for the fourth quarter of this year. XATS – Unique Conversations will bring together eminent cultural figures to discuss social and cross-cutting issues that matter to citizens across regions, including Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón.
The approach is straightforward: pair a literary figure with someone from a different field to spark conversations around themes arising from their work or cultural activity.
Carmen Amoraga, General Manager of Culture and Heritage, emphasizes that words drive these gatherings. She notes that the discussions will illuminate the values of cultural figures and resonate with the public. The aim is to learn from what these leaders say and to reflect on the cultural moment we all share, in their own words. [citation: Valencia Plan for the Promotion of Books and the Development of Generalitat]
XATS forms part of the Valencia initiative to promote reading and support cultural development coordinated by the Generalitat. Amundsen is known for organizing literary events that bring together creators and ideas.
twelve participants
For this lecture series, XATS assembles a distinguished group of six leading writers, including Lorenzo Silva, Espido Freire, Víctor del Árbol, José Carlos Somoza, Ramón Palomar, and Berna González. It also brings together cultural figures such as José Antonio Marina, Paula Bonet, José Antonio Ponseti, José Manuel Casañ, Javier Olivares, and Teresa Arnandis. [citation: Valencia cultural calendar]
Among the topics will be how fiction in its many forms can illuminate History, how technology relates to progress and how it manifests in creation, and what an artist’s obligation to society should entail. Additional conversations will address recent historical memory and how reason and emotion shape human nature, guiding people toward their best and worst impulses.
Events in Valencia are scheduled for November 2 and December 13 at the Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes. Teatre will host Arniches speeches in Alicante on October 26 and November 16. Finally, the Castellón Museum of Fine Arts will host talks on October 5 and November 23.
The first XATS gathering will take place on Wednesday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Castelló Museum of Fine Arts auditorium. The program is titled Two-note Literature: stories, songs, and other movements. In the literary portion, Ramon Palomar, a writer and journalist, will participate, alongside other voices from the community’s most listened-to radio magazine. [citation: regional event program]
As a guest, José Manuel Casan, leader and singer of the rock band Seguridad Social, known for numerous successful albums and timeless songs, will also appear. He has published a comic in collaboration with cartoonist Paco Roca, expanding the dialogue between literature and music.
They will discuss the relationship between literature and music, considering how lyrics shape songs and how both influence lives, particularly among young audiences. The question to explore remains: is there poetry in music, and can it reveal who we are and why we act the way we do?
Attendance is free until capacity is reached. Book sales and signings will follow each event. All information can be found on the XATS website and on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. [citation: official XATS channels]