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| Casa Àsia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Casa Àsia |
| Native name | Casa Àsia |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Barcelona, Madrid |
| Region served | Asia |
| Leader title | Director |
| Leader name | Carles Vilarrubí (example) |
| Website | (not provided) |
Casa Àsia is a Spanish institution devoted to fostering relations between Spain and the diverse regions of Asia, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia. Founded in the early 21st century, it operates cultural, educational, and diplomatic outreach programs connecting cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Valencia with Asian capitals including Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Jakarta. The institution engages with foreign ministries, multinational corporations, academic centers, and cultural foundations across networks that include UNESCO, ASEAN, APEC, EU External Action Service, and bilateral embassies.
Casa Àsia was established in 2001 amid expanding ties between the European Union and Asian organizations like ASEAN and APEC. Its origins reflect initiatives linked to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regional governments such as the Government of Catalonia and the Community of Madrid, and municipal actors including the Barcelona City Council and the Madrid City Council. Early cooperation involved partnerships with consulates of China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Philippines; cultural exchanges with institutions like the Confucius Institute, the Japan Foundation, and the Korea Foundation; and collaborative events with media outlets such as El País and La Vanguardia. Over time Casa Àsia expanded programming in response to geopolitical developments like the China–EU relations, the rise of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Spain’s growing trade links with the Belt and Road Initiative participants.
The mission centers on promoting intercultural dialogue among Spanish and Asian societies through collaborations with organizations including the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture (Spain), the Royal Academy of History, and academic partners such as the University of Barcelona, the Complutense University of Madrid, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Activities encompass cultural diplomacy projects with the Embassy of India in Spain, the Embassy of Japan in Spain, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Spain; economic seminars linking to Chamber of Commerce of Spain and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and public programs involving museums like the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and the Prado Museum.
Casa Àsia’s governance model features boards and advisory councils that include representatives from regional administrations such as the Generalitat de Catalunya and municipal governments, national ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain), and diplomatic missions from countries like Japan, China, India, and South Korea. It collaborates with academic institutes such as the European Institute of Asian Studies, think tanks like the Real Instituto Elcano, and cultural NGOs including the Instituto Cervantes and the Fundación Tres Culturas. Funding sources have included regional budgets, project grants from the European Commission, sponsorships from corporations such as Iberia (airline), BBVA, and partnerships with foundations like the Fundación Mapfre.
Programming spans film festivals featuring works from filmmakers linked to Wong Kar-wai, Akira Kurosawa, Satyajit Ray, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Pedro Almodóvar retrospectives; music series showcasing artists associated with Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menuhin collaborations, J-Pop acts, and K-Pop performances by ensembles influenced by companies like SM Entertainment. Exhibitions often involve curators connected to institutions such as the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Palace Museum; literary events engage authors like Haruki Murakami, Orhan Pamuk (noting transcontinental relevance), Arundhati Roy, Mo Yan, and translators linked to the Royal Spanish Academy. Festivals include conferences modeled on forums like the World Economic Forum regional meetings, and cultural weeks co-organized with embassies of Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Educational initiatives pair with universities such as the University of Salamanca, Pompeu Fabra University, and the Autonomous University of Madrid on programs in area studies, language instruction for Mandarin Chinese, Japanese language, Korean language, Hindi, and Arabic language (for Central and West Asian contexts). Research collaborations involve centers like the Asia-Europe Foundation, the Observatory for International Relations (Spain), and departmental groups at the London School of Economics, SOAS University of London, Columbia University, and Peking University. Scholarly outputs include conferences on topics tied to the Trans-Pacific Partnership debates, analyses of Sinophone studies, and comparative projects on diasporas such as the Indian diaspora, Chinese diaspora, and Southeast Asian diaspora in Europe.
Casa Àsia maintains partnerships with diplomatic missions including the Embassy of Japan in Spain, the Embassy of India in Spain, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Spain, and consular networks from South Korea and Vietnam. It engages multilaterally with organizations such as UNESCO, ASEAN Secretariat, European External Action Service, Asian Development Bank, and regional cultural agencies like the Japan Foundation and the Korea Foundation. Bilateral cooperation projects have been launched with national institutions such as the National Museum of China, the National Museum of India, the National Gallery Singapore, and the National Museum of Korea.
Main centers are located in Barcelona and Madrid, with outreach activities in cities such as Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, and Bilbao. Facilities include auditoriums suitable for conferences akin to those hosted by the Royal Opera House and the Teatre Lliure, seminar rooms used by university partners like University of Barcelona Faculty of Translation and Interpretation, and exhibition spaces compatible with loans from institutions like the British Library and the National Diet Library (Japan). Cooperation extends to cultural venues such as the CaixaForum, the Palau de la Música Catalana, and municipal libraries operated by the Bibliotecas de Barcelona network.
Category:Cultural organisations based in Spain Category:Spain–Asia relations