Between screens, keyboards, and instant messages, Handwriting is reclaiming its space Through festivals and workshops that focus on calligraphy as a cultural, artistic, and emotional practice, a wide variety of events are being organized in different Spanish cities, ranging from international gatherings to family activities centered on Chinese and Japanese calligraphy.
These projects share a common underlying concern: the risk of losing the connection with the pen, the paper, and the manual gesture in a digitally dominated society. At the same time, they open the door to rediscovering the written word as a learning tool, a means of personal expression, and a bridge between generations and cultures.
Navarre celebrates handwriting with "Calligraphy Itineraries"
In Navarre it is celebrated «Calligraphy itineraries / Kaligrafia Ibilbideak» (ICKI)A festival that invites you to put down your keyboard for a moment and rediscover the act of writing by hand. The event, scheduled for Thursday 19th to Saturday 21stIts aim is to highlight the value of handwriting in the present and reflect on its role in the future, in the midst of the digital age.
The meeting raises a simple but powerful idea: Calligraphy isn't just for old booksbut rather an everyday art that almost everyone has practiced at some point and that is entirely unique to each person. Through the stroke, a way of being, a way of thinking, and a personal rhythm are revealed, which electronic devices tend to standardize.
This second edition of the festival It relies on an international and interdisciplinary team of specialists and is structured around four major thematic axesThe first one analyzes the technological literacy versus analog literacy and the dangers of abandoning handwriting, with contributions from sociology, communication, and science.
The second section focuses on the Teaching writing and calligraphy as a learning tool, with the participation of typographers, calligraphers, letter designers and researchers working at the intersection of education, design, and visual arts.
A third axis addresses the positive impact of calligraphy on human developmentFeaturing insights from philosophy, psychology, neurology, and professional calligraphy, the book explores issues such as concentration, memory, fine motor skills, and emotional well-being associated with handwriting.
Finally, the festival examines the challenges of the digital world and writing as a form of personal and artistic expression, crossing calligraphy with disciplines such as pedagogy, dance, artistic research or audiovisual documentation.
Spaces, formats and accessibility of the Navarre festival
One of the keys to Calligraphy Itineraries is its deployment in multiple spaces in Navarreconnecting the urban and the rural. The activities are spread across places such as Civican, the Civivox Network, the Library of Navarra, the Huarte Center, the School of Art and Design of Pamplona and towns such as Tiebas and Marcilla.
The program format is deliberately diverse and includes keynote lectures, round tables, calligraphy practice workshops and experimental laboratories where writing intersects with other disciplines, including the dance, embroidery, or historical memoryThere are also interventions in public spaces, calligraphic walks, exhibitions, and a final publication which will collect the results of the project.
The festival has taken special care in the inclusion and accessibilityMeetings and at least one workshop with a sign language interpreter, printed materials in Braille, and easy-to-read texts accessible through their website have been planned. The idea is that Anyone can approach calligraphyregardless of their abilities or prior knowledge.
In addition to promoting calligraphy practices, the project seeks preserving calligraphic heritage as a cultural legacyTo this end, it promotes activities in urban and rural environments and proposes that the works, exhibitions and publications generated during the festival continue beyond the official calendar.
ICKI aims to establish itself as a leading figure in contemporary calligraphy at the state and European levels, weaving interdisciplinary collaboration networks that connect education, design, art, health, community, and memory. Students, teachers, calligraphy professionals, visual artists, senior citizen groups, people with disabilities, and the general public are encouraged to participate.
Institutional support and cultural fabric in Navarre
The momentum of Calligraphy Itineraries Is in charge of Sonia Beroiz, from Kö studio, In collaboration with educational, cultural and social institutions of Navarre. The project is supported by Innova Program, from Fundación Caja Navarra and Fundación «la Caixa», in addition to having the support of the Civivox Network, the General Archive of Navarra, Civican, the General Library of Navarra and the Museum of the Cathedral of Pamplona, among other organizations.
Entities such as the following also collaborate: Dantzaz, the EIDE design association, the School of Art and Higher Design and the Navarre Institute of Memory, as well as various patrons, associations, cultural centers, historical archives, and local stakeholders. This combined effort demonstrates that Calligraphy is understood as a matter of common interest which encompasses heritage, education, contemporary creation, and citizen participation.
The festival's content is broad and covers topics such as technological and analog literacy, the risks of the loss of handwriting, the methodologies for teaching calligraphy in different countries, peripheral calligraphies and writing as an exercise in resistance to the immediacy and urgency imposed by many digital environments.
This broad view allows us to Very different professionals sit at the same tableThose who work in the classroom, those who conduct research, those who They design typefaces, those who explore writing from the perspective of dance or visual arts and those who use it as a therapeutic tool or for community intervention.
Chinese calligraphy workshops in Zamora and Salamanca
Outside of Navarre, calligraphy is also gaining prominence in the cultural programming of other regions. In Castile and León, the Zamora Public Library hosts the practical workshop on Chinese calligraphy "Legend, ink and paper"a proposal linked to Chinese New Year and the traditional Lantern Festival, taught by the teacher Eva Song.
This is a free activity, with limited placesaimed at both young people and adults. Registration can be done directly at the library reception desk. During the session, attendees will be introduced to the use of the Chinese brush, learn about myths and passages from Eastern literature, listen to traditional music and discover cultural elements linked to lunisolar calendar.
The workshop is part of the celebration of Year of the HorseThe pygmy owl, a central figure in this festive cycle in Chinese mythology, is the subject of a discussion by the specialist. She explains the symbolism of this animal and its connection to the spring celebrations, thus linking calligraphy to a broader cultural context.
The initiative has the collaboration of Zamora Chinese language academy, open since 2019, and of the Cultural Association Friends of East AsiaBoth entities promote public activities to spread Chinese language and culture in Castile and León, and see calligraphy as a particularly attractive educational resource.
The Classroom of Oriental Studies "Wings"Located in Zamora and also managed by Eva Haiyîng Sòng, it maintains a stable offering throughout the year of Mandarin Chinese classes for all levels, preparation for official exams, virtual courses, a Manga Drawing Classroom on Saturdays and a translation service for institutions, companies and individuals, which reinforces the role of calligraphy as a gateway to other cultural expressions.
Chinese calligraphy and cultural programming at the House of Shells
Chinese calligraphy activities also reach Salamanca. The Casa de las Conchas Public Library has included in its cultural agenda the same workshop "Legend, Ink and Paper", coordinated by Eva Sòng, within the celebrations of Chinese New Year.
The proposal is organized by the Salamanca Public LibraryThe Friends of the Casa de las Conchas Public Library Association and the Friends of East Asia Cultural Association are organizing this event. Those interested can register at the library to participate. Educational activity focused on calligraphy and oriental literature.
The workshop is aimed at adults and children under 12 years old and takes place in the auditorium starting at 17:00 p.m., offering families and the general public a first introduction to the calligraphy of the Asian giantThe session is part of a broader cultural program that includes philosophy lectures, film screenings, and other workshops, helping to normalize calligraphy as another offering within the regular program of public libraries.
In this context, handwriting ceases to be a distant curiosity and becomes participatory and close activity, accessible to anyone who comes to the House of Shells wanting to try the brush, ink and paper from scratch.
Shodō in Madrid: Japanese calligraphy to enjoy as a family
In the Chamberí neighborhood of Madrid, the Creativiteka Art School joins the celebrations of New Year in Asia offering a Japanese calligraphy workshop Especially designed for those curious about Japanese culture. The main technique is... shodo, a traditional discipline in which body and mind are coordinated with breathing through calligraphic gesture.
During the session, the participants experiment with brush, ink, and pencilLearning the basic principles of shodō without the pressure of achieving a perfect result. The idea is Enjoy the process and the movementRather than focusing on the accuracy of the stroke, this makes the workshop especially attractive for those approaching calligraphy for the first time.
The course is taught by the artist Michiyo Akamine and has been designed as a family activityIt is open to both adults and children. In fact, it is expressly designed as an opportunity for different generations to share a relaxed creative experience, away from the daily rush.
The workshop is scheduled for Friday February 20th, afternoon, from 18:00 PM to 19:30 PM, at a price of €50 per family unit composed of one adult and one child. registration They are done through the school's email (info@davincididactica.com) and places are limited, so it is recommended to book in advance.
Beyond this specific anecdote, proposals like this reflect the growing interest in Explore Japanese calligraphy as a meditative and artistic practice, while at the same time bringing Japanese culture closer to audiences who perhaps previously only knew it through film, manga or gastronomy.
Taken together, the Navarre festival, the Chinese calligraphy workshops in Zamora and Salamanca, and the shodō course in Madrid show the same trend: Handwriting is making its way back into the public sphereWhether as an object of reflection, an educational tool, or a shared cultural experience, these projects, in an increasingly digital world, bring back the importance of the stroke, the paper, and the unhurried rhythm of the hand, reminding us that writing is not only about transmitting information, but also about leaving a mark, connecting with others, and preserving a heritage that remains very much alive.