Felix Etxeberria, Jesus Larrañaga and Sabin Osoro created the Izarra cultural association of Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa). It was 1963. A year earlier the ikastola had been launched. The founders had two goals in 1963: to give some light to the dark situation of the Basque Country, and to strengthen and support the ikastola. In fact, the ikastolas and the cultural association were very united.

If we take a giant leap of 50 years, we will find a structure little similar to that of then. The Izarra de Elgoibar is now an association of Euskera, although its name has not changed. If the first stage of the association was based on militancy, in this second, the professionals have taken a great deal of weight. There are currently 19 workers and the association has 600 partners.

In order to get to know today's Elgoibar Star, it is essential to go back at least to 1990. In the 1980s, the association suffered a major disaster due to two causes. On the one hand, after Franco, the political parties began to move and many Elgoibarthars who devoted themselves to Basque culture took the leap into politics. On the other hand, the projects that emerged under the ikastola, such as the dance and txistu groups, the night school, began their journey. And the question then was: What should we do now? The General Assembly in 1990 proposed the dissolution of the association, but two or three partners decided to go ahead, claiming that the 1963 objectives had not been met. In 1987, Arrasate Euskaldun Dezagun (AED) was created, and in the following years the creation of Euskera associations was extended to the surrounding villages, including Bergara and Eibar. The Star of Elgoibar took a year to prepare the new style of the partnership, with AED and the Seminar of Choirs and Delights as guides.

A new phase began in 1992 when the dynamism Imanol Larrañaga became the first worker of the association. The first project of the Reformed Association was the Weekly Barren, which hired more staff: two journalists, a Maquetist, an publicist and an administrative officer.

How to boost participation

The second stage of the association has been characterized by professionalization. However, workers have increased, and the participation of partners has decreased. This is one of the concerns of the partnership, one of the most important issues that will be addressed in the reflection to be held this year: “When the Barren Weekly was created, there was still a balance between professionals and partners, but as professionals grow, the participation of partners is decreasing. There is participation, but it has to be smaller and bigger than a social movement demands.” These are the words of the dynamism Imanol Larrañaga. Society itself is changing, and as in other areas, in the Basque world, there is a decrease in the activity of exchanging kisses of citizenship. In 1963 the association had 1,400 members, now has 600 and “we can’t even dream of reaching that figure”. There is a second reason for the loss of participation. To the extent that professional workers have taken their place, partners have delegated their work to them. “Several partners have told us this,” says Larrañaga, “we have a lot of confidence in you” and ‘there may not be much need’. We have to do our work, but this is 600 partners.”

Rope in neck

Larrañaga sums up very well what the Izarra Cultural Association of Elgoibar is in 2013: “We look back from one eye [we have to celebrate half-century activity] and with the other eye we look to the future.” They look to the future, because although Elgoibar is more Basque than 50 years ago, there is still a lot to do, and they look forward because in the midst of the economic crisis it is difficult to maintain the structure. The 19 workers have reduced their working hours from eight hours to seven and a half hours, and their wages by 20 percent. The main source of income of the Society, the City of Elgoibar, began a few years ago to slow down the flow. In the new route started in 1991, the City Hall has been an essential partner. Every year, without fail, it has supported the projects of the partnership. With a budget of 500,000 pesetas at the beginning of the second stage, the implementation of the Barren weekly resulted in a budget leap of 24 million pesetas. At present, a structure of 19 workers must be maintained. “In the last 4-5 years we have the rope on the neck. Is the project sustainable? Will we maintain this structure for a while, until the crisis is over? Will the City return to the time of the subsidies it provided from 1991 to 4-5 years ago?” These questions must be answered by the association that has a long half-century journey.