Elkarlanean

Elkarlanean is a Basque record label and publishing imprint based in Aduna, Gipuzkoa, Spain. It operates as part of Elkar S.L., a publishing house founded in 1972 in Bayonne, France, by 20 young Basque cultural activists led by Manex Pagola and Gexan Alfaro. The label is dedicated to the production and distribution of music in the Basque language, alongside the group's broader literary and educational publishing activities. Elkar S.L. is a key player in Basque cultural production, with a catalog that includes thousands of books and hundreds of records. The company operates under the umbrella of Elkar Fundazioa and is part of Elkar Taldea, which includes bookstores and distribution companies. Elkarlanean specifically focuses on music, releasing albums by Basque artists and contributing to the vitality of Basque-language music. The label's output spans various genres, from folk to rock to contemporary music, and it has been instrumental in documenting and promoting Basque musical heritage. Through its publishing and musical endeavors, Elkar S.L. and its imprint Elkarlanean have become central to the cultural landscape of the Basque Country, supporting creators and fostering a critical, free, and educated community.

Elkarlanean is the record label imprint of Elkar S.L., a Basque publishing house founded in 1972 in Bayonne, France, by 20 young cultural activists (9 women and 11 men) led by Manex Pagola and Gexan Alfaro. Each founder contributed 1,000 francs, equivalent to a month's salary at the time. The initiative aimed to transform the Basque cultural scene, which suffered from limited Basque-language creation and significant publishing difficulties. In 1974, twenty more members from the Southern Basque Country joined, giving the project a national scope. In 1977, following the death of Franco, Elkar opened a second headquarters in Donostia-San Sebastián, in addition to Bayonne. Over the years, the publishing house expanded its imprints to include Elkar (books and music), Ttarttalo, Txertoa, and Sua, along with Ikaselkar for educational materials. In the 1990s, all members of the Elkar group were integrated into Elkar Fundazioa. The label Elkarlanean has been central to the production of Basque music, releasing albums across various genres and contributing to the cultural project's six main lines: children's and adult literature, Basque history and thought, Basque geography and nature, curriculum development, Basque language teaching, and music. By 2023, the active catalog included 4,000 books and 800 records, with 190 new titles published annually. The label also collaborates on several grants and awards to promote creation, such as the Tene Mujika award (1988), Igartza grant (1998), Agustin Zubikarai award (2000), Jokin Zaitegi translation prize (2001), and Mikel Zarate children's literature award (2011).

• 2011

  Mikel Zarate children's literature award launched with Lezama Council.

• 2001

  Jokin Zaitegi Nobel Translation Prize organized with AED, Arrasate Council, and Laboral Kutxa.

• 2000

  Agustin Zubikarai Award launched with Ondarroa Town Council.

• 1998

  Igartza grant for young writers launched with Beasain Town Council and CAF.

• 1988

  Tene Mujika short story competition launched with Deba Town Council.

• 1987

  Manex Pagola and Martxelin Arberbide sell their shares to Antton Pochelu and Jeanne Hiriart.

• 1977

  Second headquarters opened in Donostia-San Sebastián.

• 1974

  Twenty new members from the Southern Basque Country join, expanding national reach.

• 1972

  Elkar publishing house founded in Bayonne by 20 young activists.

Cultural project promoting Basque language and identity through music and literature.

• Music albums

• Books

• Educational materials

1. 1Elkar Argitaletxeaelkarargitaletxea.eus
2. 2Elkarlaneanwikidata.org
3. 3Elkar (argitaletxea)eu.wikipedia.org