Ramon Llull Institute
Encyclopedia
The Institut Ramon Llull (instiˈtud rəˈmoɲ ˈʎuʎ, English
: "Ramon Llull Institute"), also known by the acronym
IRL, is a Catalan organization constituted in 2002 in order to "promote Catalan language
and culture internationally". The founding members are the autonomous governments of Catalonia
and the Balearic Islands with the collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
.
In the 2004-2008 period, the Balearic regional government left the institution, a decision reversed with the government change in this autonomous community in 2008.
IRL headquarters are shared between Barcelona
(Catalonia) and Palma (Balearic Islands). On May 21, 2008, the Vives Network (the network of Catalan language
universities) was integrated into the IRL.
The institute constitutes the Ramon Llull Foundation
(FRL) together with other political institutions from the Països Catalans: the government of Andorra
, the General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales
, the city council of Alghero
and the Network of Valencian Cities. The latter is an association of a few Valencian
city councils that joined together in order to participate in the FRL, in spite of the fact that the Valencian regional government
has declined to enter the IRL.
Both the institute and the foundation are named after Ramon Llull
, a Majorcan medieval writer and philosopher, who is considered the first notable writer in Catalan.
at Guadalajara
, Mexico
, which presented the "Catalan Culture" its "yearly guest of honor", with a total attendance of 450.000. On 10 October 2007, "Catalan Culture" was the guest of honor of the Frankfurt Book Fair
. The government of Andorra collaborated with IRL in this event before the creation of FRL.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Ramon Llull Institute"), also known by the acronym
Acronym and initialism
Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These components may be individual letters or parts of words . There is no universal agreement on the precise definition of the various terms , nor on written usage...
IRL, is a Catalan organization constituted in 2002 in order to "promote Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
and culture internationally". The founding members are the autonomous governments of Catalonia
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
and the Balearic Islands with the collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Spain)
The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is the department of Government of Spain responsible for Spain's foreign relations. The present incumbent of the office is Trinidad Jiménez of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party ....
.
In the 2004-2008 period, the Balearic regional government left the institution, a decision reversed with the government change in this autonomous community in 2008.
IRL headquarters are shared between Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(Catalonia) and Palma (Balearic Islands). On May 21, 2008, the Vives Network (the network of Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
universities) was integrated into the IRL.
The institute constitutes the Ramon Llull Foundation
Ramon Llull Foundation
The Fundació Ramon Llull , also known by the acronym FRL, is an international organization constituted in 2008 in order to promote Catalan language and culture internationally...
(FRL) together with other political institutions from the Països Catalans: the government of Andorra
Politics of Andorra
The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the Head of Government of Andorra is the chief executive, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government...
, the General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales
General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales
The General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales is the assembly elected for 6 years by the 31 Cantons of the Pyrénées-Orientales and its executive...
, the city council of Alghero
Alghero
Alghero , is a town of about 44,000 inhabitants in Italy. It lies in the province of Sassari in northwestern Sardinia, next to the sea.-History:The area of today's Alghero has been settled since pre-historic times...
and the Network of Valencian Cities. The latter is an association of a few Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
city councils that joined together in order to participate in the FRL, in spite of the fact that the Valencian regional government
Generalitat Valenciana
The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia is politically organised....
has declined to enter the IRL.
Both the institute and the foundation are named after Ramon Llull
Ramon Llull
Ramon Llull was a Majorcan writer and philosopher, logician and tertiary Franciscan. He wrote the first major work of Catalan literature. Recently-surfaced manuscripts show him to have anticipated by several centuries prominent work on elections theory...
, a Majorcan medieval writer and philosopher, who is considered the first notable writer in Catalan.
Objectives
The Ramon Llull Institute's main objective is to promote Catalan language and culture abroad, in all its variants. In order to achieve its mission, IRL carries out several activities including, but not limited to, promoting the establishment of Catalan language classes in educational institutions beyond its natural linguistic domain, holding certifications tests for students of Catalan, promoting Catalan literature by endorsing translations into different languages, and promoting the works of Catalan artist, performers, scientists and researchers.Structure
IRL's activities are coordinated by three main departments:- The Language Department
- The Artistic Department
- The Department of Humanities and Sciences
International events and participation
On 27 November 2004, the President of the Catalan government, Pasqual Maragall inaugurated the International Book FairGuadalajara International Book Fair
The Guadalajara International Book Fair, better known as the FIL is the most important annual event of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world, and the second largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt's. Created in 1987, the FIL is put on by the University of Guadalajara...
at Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, which presented the "Catalan Culture" its "yearly guest of honor", with a total attendance of 450.000. On 10 October 2007, "Catalan Culture" was the guest of honor of the Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. As to the number of visitors, the Turin Book Fair attracts about as many visitors, viz. some 300,000....
. The government of Andorra collaborated with IRL in this event before the creation of FRL.