Cultural diplomacy in The Diplomat’s Tertulia with luthier Manuel Rodríguez

Manuel Rodríguez addresses the audience./ Photos: JD / AR

The Diplomat

 

Cultural diplomacy was the focus of the Tertulia that The Diplomat organised on 28 September, together with the Association of Foreign Diplomats (ADE), at the Hotel Meliá Madrid Princesa, in which the luthier Manuel Rodríguez III explained his activity in the promotion of Spain abroad and international cooperation.

 

Under the title, “The Spanish guitar: chords of public diplomacy in the world“, Manuel Rodríguez, ambassador of Marca España, reviewed more than thirty years of activity, through his centenary brand Guitarras MR, in which he has coincided with international statesmen such as the President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, or the King and Queen of Spain, with whom he has been able to undertake various cooperation actions.

 

The gathering was attended by about twenty diplomats from different countries, who were interested in cooperation formulas with the luthier in their respective countries, such as establishing schools to promote the art of guitar making or the organisation of events to take advantage of the opportunities offered by cultural diplomacy.

 

The Diplomat’s Tertulias have been held periodically for years and deal with different aspects of Spanish politics, economy and society. Its aim is to offer foreign diplomats different approaches and points of view on the Spanish reality, under the condition of strict confidentiality of what is discussed in the room.

 

During the talk, a documentary about the handcrafted construction of guitars in Manuel Rodríguez’s workshop was shown.

 

The luthier exhibited several collector’s guitars, including one signed by the actor Antonio Banderas.

 

The Diplomat’s cultural coordinator, Juan David Latorre, and guitarist Antonio García Solé surprised the audience with a live performance.

 

Some of the attendees pose with the speaker at the end of the session.

 

 

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