The Cervantes Chair is a platform for promoting Spanish and Iberian languages, arts, culture, and science across Scotland. The Cervantes Chair or Cátedra Cervantes at the University of Edinburgh was inaugurated in May 2023 with the appointment of Professor Alexis Grohmann. It is the result of collaboration between the University, the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh, and the Instituto Cervantes in Manchester. It represents a new model for the presence of the Instituto Cervantes in the world. This collaboration means that for the first time, the Cervantes Institute, which has 92 centres across four continents and in 47 countries, will be organising events and activities open to the public in Scotland. MissionThe Cervantes Chair collaborates with Scottish cultural institutions to offer a diverse range of events related to the Spanish language, arts, culture, and science. These events aim to promote the study of Spanish languages (including Castilian, Galician, Catalan, and Basque) and to celebrate and foster cultural connections between Scotland and Spain. In education, the focus is on training local primary and secondary teachers in Spanish to encourage the continuation of these links for generations to come."We are delighted to have been selected as the partner for the Cervantes Institute in Scotland and proud to host the world’s first ever Cervantes Chair here at the University. It means more opportunities for communities across Scotland to engage with and connect with Spanish language, literature and culture and deepen our existing connections and partnerships between Scotland and Spain." Alan Mackay, Deputy Vice-Principal International and Director of Edinburgh Global. Cultural and Academic Programme 2026 A range of events are programmed throughout the year. Scotland's Ibero-American documentary film festival (IberoDocs 2026)IberoDocs returns for its 12th edition with an inspiring programme of documentary films, filmmaker Q&As, exhibitions and community events celebrating the diverse voices of Spain, Portugal and Latin America. This year, the film festival expands beyond Edinburgh, with screenings in Dundee, Oban and Aberfeldy. Expect premieres, filmmaker Q&As, free community screenings, special guests and plenty of opportunities to discover something new. When: 16-26 SeptemberWhere: Edinburgh, Dundee, Oban and Aberfeldy Find out more and visit the IberoDocs 2026 programmeCelebrating the Generación del ’27A week of events leading up to the centenary celebration of the Generación del ’27, including film screenings, talks, and a commemoration of the assassination of Spanish poet Federico García Lorca at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. When: 26-31 OctoberWhere: tbc More to be announced soon. Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (ESFF) presents its 13th edition with a curated selection of 16 films from Spain and Latin America and 2 events, alongside screenings, discussions and special events across Edinburgh, Stirling, Tranent, Glasgow, Manchester and Ayr.The festival opens on Thursday 1 October at Filmhouse with Lust for Life and Friday 2 October at Vue Omni Centre with Band Together, directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, who will join the post-screening Q&A. The evening will conclude with a reception featuring wine and tapas.When: Edinburgh, 1-19 October. On tour, 2 October -5 NovemberWhere: Multiple venues in Edinburgh, Stirling, Tranent, Glasgow, Manchester and AyrVisit the ESFF website for the full programme Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming events Professor Alexis GrohmannProfessor Alexis Grohmann was appointed to the first Cervantes Chair in May 2023. Professor Grohmann is Professor of Contemporary Spanish Literature at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of over 200 publications in the fields of contemporary Spanish and European literatures, including the first full-length study of the novels of Javier Marías, Coming into One's Own: The Novelistic Development of Javier Marías, as well as other books on Marías, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, digression in European literature, and the Spanish newspaper column. In 2016, he was elected as a foreign correspondent to Spain's Royal Academy. In 2020, he formed part of the jury of the European literature prize Premio Formentor de las Letras. In 2022, he was appointed as the director of the Arturo Pérez-Reverte Chair at the Universidad de Murcia. Since 2022, he writes a newspaper column for the Spanish newspaper 'The Objective'.Professor Alexis Grohmann profileAlexis Grohmann's newspaper column in The Objective This collaboration is not just for the University, it's not just for the city; it's for Scotland. Professor Alexis Grohmann Cervantes Chair About the Instituto Cervantes The Cervantes Institute is the official Spanish Language and Cultural centre. It is a non-profit organisation founded by the Spanish Government in 1991. Its mission is to promote and support the teaching, study, and use of Spanish abroad, as well as to promote Spanish and Hispanic cultures more generally. Instituto Cervantes in Manchester Press and stories and related links Cervantes Chair - Instituto CervantesConsulado General de España en Edimburgo, Cátedra Cervantes en la Universidad de EdimburgoEdinburgh Impact - The Ties that Bind UsSpanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at the University of Edinburgh This article was published on Monday 24 June 2024
