public affairs ACTIVITIES

Arnold Chacón with other participants at the Seminar inauguration

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Arnold Chacón opened the 8th annual Seminar on the Study of Terrorism: The challenges of terrorism and transatlantic relations yesterday evening. The seminar (November 16-18) is organized by the José Ortega y Gasset Foundation with the collaboration of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and brings together standout specialists with the objective of tackling, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the evolution of terrorism in the international spectrum.
Foundation page.

Stephen Short interview at US Embassy in Madrid

Stephen Short, Program Planning Specialist for the Library of Congress in Washington, arrived in Spain to attend a conference hosted by REBIUN in which he discussed the strategic planning initiatives currently being undertaken by the Library of Congress to foster more result-oriented outcomes. While speaking at the University of Leon, Short spoke of one of the most difficult tasks facing libraries on a collective front is the preservation and maintenance of physical artifacts for generations to come while embracing virtual libraries. Another issue facing libraries globally is the need to build and extend a partnership alliance among one another, an initiative that Short has found that Spanish national libraries are beginning to address and work upon. Short also had the opportunity to visit national libraries in Barcelona and Madrid and share his insights with various personnel members.

Interview on YouTube.
Interview in El Diario de León 11-04-09.
Article in El Diario de León 11-03-09.
Article in El Diario de León 11-05-09.
 

Michael Burlingame at US Embassy in Madrid, October 20,  2009

After receiving wide critical acclaim in the U.S. for his compelling and meticulously researched work of non-fiction, Alex Ross, the music critic for The New Yorker and author of The Rest is Noise, visited Spain in conjunction with the recent translation of his book, which is now the best-selling non-fiction book in Spain. Speaking to audiences at the Spanish National Library and the International Institute, where his book was presented by Spain’s Minister of Education, Ross spoke passionately about his inspiration for the book, citing his own youthful obsession with classical music and his joy at discovering works by avant-garde 20th century composers who challenged musical conventions. Ross argues that music is an essential part of history and the book explores how 20th century composers and their works fit into the artistic, social and political currents of their times. Ross also shared his insights through extensive media interviews.

Interview in Perfil/Cultura.