International writers gather at IE University for the 12th edition of Hay Festival Segovia

Big names in the worlds of literature, art, architecture and journalism met last week in Segovia for the 12th edition of Hay Festival Segovia. Once again, this international festival of ideas, art and thought, proved very popular - over 13,000 people attended one or more of the 94 events that made up the program. Thanks to the solid commitment of IE Foundation to the Festival, IE University again served as key collaborator and academic partner, hosting multiple events and activities from 16 to 24 of September. IE University played host to key players like architects Richard Rogers and Sou Fujimoto, writers Leila Slimani, Fernando Aramburu, Javier Marías and Dolores Redondo, to mention just a few of the 160 guest speakers who shared their experiences in course of the Festival.

IE University’s Aula Magna hosted the opening event of the festival in the form of a debate focused on “Free voices – what can we expect in the future?” with Cristina Manzano, Director of ES GLOBAL, scientist Amador Menéndez, and Manuel Muñiz, Dean of IE School of International Relations. Over 300 representatives from the world of culture, politics, business, and diplomacy, travelled to Segovia aboard a high-speed train sponsored by RENFE to attend the opening ceremony. Participants in the opening event included Fernando Benzo, Spanish Secretary of State for culture, Simon Manley, UK Ambassador to Spain, Santiago Íñiguez, President of IE University, Clara Luquero, Mayor of Segovia, and Ramón Azuara, Managing Director of Renfe Viajeros.

Writers and thinkers were there in force, including winner of the 2016 Gouncurt prize Leïla Slimani, UK writers Jeanette Winterson and Jenny Valentine, and Spanish authors Dolores Redondo, Fernando Aramburu, Javier Marías and Antonio Muñoz Molina. The world of international relations and economy was well represented by key figures who included Manuel Muñiz, Joaquín Almunia, Timothy Phillips, Mark Müller Stuart, Nikesh Shukla, Guillermo de la Dehesa and Juan María Nin. There were also a large number of journalists and other familiar names from the world of communication like Andrew Hill, Michael Robinson, Javier del Pino, Jordi Évole, Toño Fraguas, Sergio Molino, Juan Cruz, Enric Juliana and Giles Tremlett. Key players from the world of patronage of the arts, like Eduardo Hochschild, Kofi Appenteng and Hannah Rothschild, were there to talk about their respective experiences, while leading names from the international law sector, such as Helena Kennedy and Phillipe Sands, examined issues related to global law. Martha Thorne, Richard Rogers, Benedetta Tagliabue, Deyan Sudjic, Liam Aldous, Sou Fujimoto, Lazlo Baan, Luis Vidal, and Luis Cueto were just some of the participants who talked about cities, design and architecture.

IE University professors and experts who took part in this 12th edition of Hay Festival Segovia included Martin Boehm, Manuel Muñiz, Rolf Strom-Olsen, Martha Thorne, Guillermo de la Dehesa, Carlos Mas, Giuseppe Tringali, Gonzalo Garland and José Félix Valdivieso. Like every year, a group of international students from IE University worked as volunteers, helping with the running of events and activities held on IE’s Santa Cruz la Real campus. The event provided them with a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into one of the world’s biggest festivals of thought, literature and art. Also, in parallel to the Hay Festival, IE University hosted an exhibition organized by the French Institute entitled “Regards qui parlent” (“Looks that talk”), by Spanish artist DAUD, who is currently based in Senegal.

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