Luis García Montero, the director of Spain’s Instituto Cervantes, has officially opened the 70th Annual Conference of the Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland in Edinburgh, calling for a reinvigoration of humanist values in an age increasingly dominated by decontextualized science and fragmented identities.
His keynote address, titled “Humanism, Science with Roots”, marked the start of the two-day in-person event hosted by the University of Edinburgh, with a third, fully virtual session to follow later in the week. The gathering, one of the most prestigious academic forums for Hispanic studies in the Anglophone world, has drawn scholars from across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
A Cultural Bridge in the Scottish Capital
The opening ceremony took place Monday morning at the university’s historic campus. García Montero was joined by Professor Sarah Wright, president of the Association of Hispanists and a leading academic at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Their joint appearance underscored the continuing importance of cultural diplomacy between Spain and the UK, particularly at a time of growing linguistic and educational shifts in post-Brexit Britain. The conference is not only a platform for research but also a barometer of the role Hispanic culture plays within British higher education.
“Humanism reminds us that science must not lose its connection with life, memory, and the ethical frameworks that give knowledge meaning,” García Montero said during his address.
Cervantes Director’s UK Tour Highlights Cultural Soft Power
The event is part of a broader institutional visit by García Montero to the United Kingdom. Beginning on Friday, the tour has included stops at the Instituto Cervantes centres in London and Manchester. In both cities, he met with the centres’ staff and management teams, reviewed strategic goals, and hosted engagements with young Hispanic creatives based in the UK.
In London, García Montero led a roundtable with emerging Spanish-language artists, authors, and performers, emphasising the importance of nurturing Hispanic creativity abroad.
This UK tour comes amid a period of renewed Spanish cultural investment in the British Isles, as Instituto Cervantes seeks to expand outreach and influence post-pandemic. The organisation is positioning itself as a key player in the global push for multilingual education, heritage preservation, and soft diplomacy.
Edinburgh: An Academic and Cultural Nexus
The University of Edinburgh, known for its historic engagement with the Enlightenment and modern languages, was a natural host for this year’s milestone edition of the annual Hispanists’ conference. The institution has long been a hub for Spanish and Latin American studies, and its hosting of the 70th edition of the conference reflects its ongoing prominence.
Over the next two days, sessions will span topics ranging from Golden Age literature to contemporary Latin American film, colonial memory, post-dictatorship transitions, and bilingual education. The virtual day on Thursday will expand access for international participants, in line with efforts to democratize academic exchange.
Beyond Academia: A Strategic Cultural Event
While deeply academic in tone, the conference also carries strategic weight. Amid ongoing discussions about the role of foreign languages in British education—and threats of declining enrolments in modern languages—the presence of a figure like García Montero lends institutional backing and cultural prestige.
As post-Brexit Britain redefines its international partnerships, the Spanish government’s cultural arm is quietly investing in language, literature, and long-term influence. This week’s events in Edinburgh offer a model for that strategy: blending scholarly exchange, youth engagement, and diplomatic outreach in a culturally resonant setting.
