Casa Árabe
Aim
Be meeting point where different role-players and institutions, both private and public, from the worlds of business, education, academia, politics and culture can dialogue, interact, establish lines of cooperation and undertake joint projects.
History
Casa Árabe was established as an inter-administrative entity under public law, run as part of the General Administration of the Spanish State, with its own legal status, full capacity to act and own assets. The consortium is made up of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC), the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECID), the Autonomous Regional Government of Andalusia, the Autonomous Region of Madrid, the Municipal Government of Madrid and the Municipal Government of Cordoba. Casa Árabe is operated as the strategic center for Spain’s relations with the Arab world, a meeting point where different role-players and institutions, both private and public, from the worlds of business, education, academia, politics and culture can dialogue, interact, establish lines of cooperation and undertake joint projects. Since it was founded in 2006, Casa Árabe has carried out its tasks as an active platform and tool for Spain’s public diplomacy, with activities which it has integrated into those of a strong network of similar Casas, including the Casa de América, Casa Asia, Casa África, Casa del Mediterráneo and Centro Sefarad-Israel.
IRD Activities
- Education and the Economy
This area of work combines Casa Árabe’s socio-economic and business program with its educational work, including the Arabic Language Center, with the objective of offering training to youths and professionals so as to support the internationalization of Spanish talent and the consolidation of their presence in Arab countries
- Governance
In this sense, the scope of action of our public diplomacy encompasses the dimensions of international relations beyond just traditional diplomacy
for example, there is interaction between groups and interests in one country and those of another country, in Track II diplomacy dynamics. Other examples include the drafting of reports on foreign affairs and their impact on policy, as well as seminars which encourage reflection and a better understanding of the contemporary Arab world
- Culture and New Media
The third pillar upon which Casa Árabe’s endeavor is supported involves the promotion of Arab culture amongst the public in Spain. Casa Árabe’s film screenings create a constant window which provides a look at the current realities of Arab and Muslim countries, through both fictional feature films and an enormous number of documentary films. The exhibition halls at both headquarters host contemporary art exhibits and exhibitions with educational or historical content, all aimed not only at increasing the visibility of the artists themselves, but also at creating spaces for thought and knowledge. In the field of literature and essays, the presentation of new publishing firms is a part of our ongoing program, in close collaboration with authors and publishers. And along the same lines, its scheduled musical performances are also notable, serving as a vehicle with a great outreach for creating intercultural dialogue. The Cultural Program is also a way to develop cooperative relations with institutions, creators and professionals from culture industries in the Arab world and, as such, it has become a dynamic, essential tool for cultural diplomacy and dialogue between the most innovative sectors in societies, including the promotion and furthering of the internationalization of our most creative professional sectors, such as architecture
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Spain - Spain - Spain - Madrid, Spain