The Diplomat
To mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, Casa de América presents a special program throughout 2026, joining the international celebrations of the so-called “United States Semicentennial (America250).”
On July 4, 1776, the institution of Spanish public diplomacy recalled, the Second Continental Congress proclaimed the independence of the thirteen British colonies in North America, giving rise to a new nation. This historical milestone marked a turning point in modern history and laid the foundations for a political, social, and cultural process whose influence remains relevant today.
“In this context, Casa de América joins the commemorations taking place in the United States and in various parts of the continent, offering a space for reflection on the historical, political, and cultural development of the country, as well as on its relationship with Latin America and the entire American continent,” it continued.
“As a platform for encounter, thought, and creation,” Casa de América announced, it will develop a diverse program that includes art exhibitions, book presentations, roundtables, lectures, and concerts. These activities will bring together specialists, artists, and the general public around a key anniversary for understanding the past and present of the Americas.
“This program seeks to foster dialogue and the exchange of perspectives, highlighting the plurality of viewpoints that shape American identity and its international projection, while strengthening cultural ties between Spain and the American continent,” it added.
CONFIRMED PROGRAM (subject to further announcements):
Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m.
- Presentation of the book “The Enemy of My Enemy: Spain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783),” by Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia. This historical study examines the crucial but often overlooked role that Spain played during the American Revolutionary War. The author will be accompanied by Manuel Lucena Giraldo, director of the Chair of Spanish and Hispanic Studies at the Universities of the Community of Madrid.
June 10 to September 30
- Exhibition Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha, by Bego Antón. A photographic project developed in the United States that investigates canine freestyle music, a cultural practice born in the late 20th century in the context of dog shows and popular entertainment. In collaboration with PHotoEspaña.
June 25 to September 30
- Exhibition I Have a Coconut with You, by Bernardo Medina. An incisive reflection on the complex relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico through a Caribbean reinterpretation of iconic Campbell’s soup cans, a symbol of American consumer culture, and “caballitos de pícaro” (a type of sweet treat).
June 25 to September 30
- Exhibition American Democracy, comprised of two shows: American Colors and American Democracy. With their “social geometry,” the PSJM collective creates minimalist compositions based on statistical data or election recounts. For example, using the five colors conventionally associated with race in a work where the census percentage dictates the amount of each color.
June 25 to September 30
- American Latinos 1935-1945 Exhibition by Alberto Ferreras. Through photography, music, and narration, filmmaker Alberto Ferreras creates this immersive exhibition that brings together nearly 300 portraits of Hispanic communities in the United States. Featuring works by seminal photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Jack Delano, Russell Lee, John Collier Jr., Marion Post Wolcott, and Arthur Rothstein.
Friday, July 10 at 6:00 p.m.
- Commemorative concert for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, organized in collaboration with the Madrid Association of Composers (AMCC). The concert will be performed by Sonor Ensemble, and will include works by George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Yvonne Freckmann, Katrina Penman and Flores Chaviano.
