Happy Dialogues in Benaocaz. Funded by the Andalusian Regional Government and Next Generation Funds

Benaocaz explores the relationship between culture and happiness with “Happy Dialogues.”

• Benaocaz City Council will host a project subsidized by the Andalusian Regional Government with Next Generation funds throughout the month of November to expand and diversify culture in rural areas.

• Espacio C is the creator and promoter of a pioneering initiative in the province of Cádiz that seeks to promote well-being, happiness, culture, and equality through music, poetry, collective dialogue, and gastronomy.

Benaocaz, November 6, 2023

The Cadiz municipality of Benaocaz is preparing to welcome a unique cultural event, the "Happy Dialogues," which will take place from November 11 to 26.

This project, which seeks to explore the relationship between culture and happiness from diverse perspectives, promises to be a milestone in the province's cultural landscape and anticipates the start of future editions to be held in other municipalities.

The development of the "Happy Dialogues" in Benaocaz is possible thanks to the grant awarded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, through the Andalusian Agency of Cultural Institutions, to expand and diversify the cultural offering in non-urban areas of Andalusia, under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan—funded by the European Union—Next Generation EU.

"Happy Dialogues" is an initiative created by Rocío Royo, director of Espacio C, and supported, on this occasion, by the Benaocaz City Council. The project seeks to delve into the cultural richness, intangible heritage, and identity of the municipality. For this purpose, fieldwork was previously conducted in collaboration with the Benaocaceñas. All of this will be achieved through knowledge, artistic creation, collective dialogue, gastronomy, outreach, research, poetry, and music.

The cycle of activities focuses on strengthening local culture, forging meaningful connections between people, heritage, knowledge, and creativity. Its main mission is to promote well-being, happiness, culture, and equality while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

The "Happy Dialogues" program will begin on Saturday, November 11th at 5:00 p.m. with the opening of the "Happy" exhibition at the Benaocaz Ecomuseum. This exhibition, which has been successfully displayed in other venues across Spain, explores fundamental ideas about happiness, both individually and collectively, from an informative and creative perspective. The welcome and guided tour will be led by the exhibition's creator, Leire Iriarte, founder and director of El Buen Vivir, a social consulting firm dedicated to improving quality of life.

At 6:00 p.m., a roundtable discussion titled "Culture and Happiness" will be held at the Aznalmara Theater, featuring Leire Iriarte; Ana Luz Castillo, cultural manager and artist; Benita Sánchez, TG projects and local development; and Olivia Venegas, mayor of Benaocaz. Rocío Royo will moderate the discussion.

The event will continue at 7:00 p.m. with another roundtable discussion entitled "Gastronomy and Memory." Gastronomy experts Angélica Rodríguez, Charo Barrios, Mercedes López, and Manuel Ruiz will examine the close relationship between food and memory, highlighting the importance of gastronomy as an essential element of local culture that greatly contributes to the well-being of the community. Sandra Fano will moderate this enriching discussion.

At 8 p.m., the Aznalmara Theater will be transformed into the stage for "Benaocaceñas al amor de la lumbre," a work Presented by Óskar P. Crespo in collaboration with the University of Cádiz Alumni Masterñam. This experience is the result of research into culinary culture based on the stories of the municipality's residents, collected after two weeks of fieldwork .

The event also includes the "Happy Tapas Route," available throughout the event days at local restaurants El Parral, El Refugio, and Nazarí. This route will give attendees the opportunity to share and relive the culinary memories evoked by each delicious tapa, offering a unique experience exploring the region's culinary riches.

On Friday the 17th, a haikus and short poetry workshop will be offered at 5:00 p.m., under the theme "Verses against Gender-Based Violence," led by poet Olvido Andújar. This will provide an opportunity to explore poetry as a tool for awareness and artistic expression. At 7:30 p.m., a poetry recital will be held, where the workshop poems will be read and Olvido Andújar's collection of poems "Érase que se era" will be presented.

Friday night will culminate with a concert by Canarian singer-songwriter Alicia Ramos at 8 p.m. at the Aznalmara Theater.

On Thursday the 23rd, at 11:00 a.m., there will be a screening of the documentary "Mujer de hoy. Villa del Prado," a production of Espacio C, followed by a discussion on "Rural Women" at the Day Center, facilitated by Sandra Fano and Rocío Royo. This event will provide a platform to explore the experiences of women in rural settings and promote gender equality.

Finally, on Friday the 24th, Evoéh's concert "Comerte a versos" will be presented at 8:00 p.m. at the Aznalmara Theater. Ariana Barrabés will perform on vocals and tambourines, Jesús Olivares on guitar, Arabic lute, and African harp, and José Borjas on double bass.

The "Happy Dialogues" event promises a diverse and exciting experience that celebrates culture and art, fostering community happiness and well-being.

All activities are free. Reservations can be made by email at dialogosfelices@espacioc.es or in person at the Benaocaz Town Hall Social Affairs Office.