Art and creativity provide us with the imagination, experiences and tools which are so necessary in building thousands of small bridges between individuals and societies. In actuality, we are talking about building bridges for a Mediterranean dialogue, one that we acknowledge as being intercultural, with processes and outcomes which are filled with mutual references despite the oftentimes painful conflicts that can be found between the two shores. We exist simultaneously within one same civilization, which is fortunately made up of different cultures that arose from diverse connections and mutual exchanges throughout history. In this sense, sharing artistic activities plants a fruitful seed that may grow into recognizing and appreciating each other: weaving a web and creative cloak to give cover to a committed citizenry. This is why it is important to create spaces where we can form bonds, question public space and practice cooperation, sharing and creation, as expressed by the authors who have contributed to this issue.

The event will include talks by Mireia Estrada, director of Jiwar Creación y Sociedad; Senén Florensa, executive president of the European Institute of the (IEMed); Maria-Àngels Roque, an anthropologist and the director of Quaderns de la Mediterrània, and Cristina Juarranz, Casa Árabe’s Management Assistant and Programming Coordinator.