Ramon Llull Institute

The Ramon Llull Institute (in Catalan: "Institut Ramon Llull", "IRL") is a Spanish cultural organization constituted in the spring of 2002 by the regional governments of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands with the collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Nowadays, it is undergoing a process of restructuring in order to include the government of Andorra. [ [http://www.llull.cat/llull/actualidad/comunicados.jsp?id=200712180001&xsl=/docs/plantillas/noticias/noticias.xsl Press note on the agreement between the governments of Andorra, Balears and Catalonia] ] IRL is headquartered in the capital of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia, the city of Barcelona. On May 21 2008, the Joan Lluís Vives Institute (the network of Catalan language universities) was integrated into the IRL. [ [http://www.vives.org/premsa/2008-05-22.php Press note on the agreement between Joan Lluís Vives Institute and Ramon Llull Institute] ]

The institute is named after Ramon Llull, a medieval writer and philosopher from the Balearic Islands, who is considered the first notable writer in the Catalan language.

Objectives

The Ramon Llull Institute's (IRL) main objective is to promote Catalan language and culture abroad, in all its variants. [http://www.llull.cat/llull/estatic/eng/quisom/objectius.shtm Objectives] . Institut Ramon Lull] 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.

tructure

IRL's activities are coordinated by three main departments: [ [http://www.llull.cat/llull/estatic/eng/quisom/arees.shtm Àrees] . Institut Ramon Llull]
* 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 Fair at Guadalajara, Mexico, which presented the "Catalan Culture" its "yearly guest of honor", with a total assistance of 450.000. [ [http://www.fil.com.mx/invitado/catal.asp La Cultura Catalana, Invidado de Honor] . Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara] On 10 October 2007, "Catalan Culture" was the guest of honor of the Frankfurt Book Fair. [ [http://www.frankfurt2007.cat/ Frankfurt 2007] . Cultura Catalana Singular i Universal.] In this particular event, the government of Andorra collaborated with IRL.

References

External lniks

* [http://www.llull.com/llull/index.jsp?idioma=ca Ramon Llull Institute Official Web Page]