The Jazzville venue in Madrid hosted a new edition of Ethics and Poetry last Wednesday, May 27th, a cultural project by the Volunteering Platform of Spain focused on the dialogue between poetry, music, and social awareness.
Escarpa, who had previously hosted other editions of the series, once again served as host. His presence is linked to sustained work in promoting poetry, orality, and creating meeting spaces between authors, cultural institutions, and citizens.
A poet, teacher, and cultural manager, Escarpa has developed much of his career around oral and performance poetry. Founder of La Piscifactoría and director of the National Award for Live Poetry #LdeLírica, his work has helped bring contemporary poetic creation closer to new audiences and cultural spaces.
The lineup for Ethics and Poetry 2026 featured some of the most prominent voices in Spanish literature and music, who took turns on the Jazzville stage.
Following Gonzalo Escarpa's opening, the literary evening began with Rosana Acquaroni, winner of the Cáceres Patrimonio de la Humanidad Award and runner-up for the Adonáis. The first musical segment was performed by singer-songwriter Fran Fernández, who received early recognition with the Diputación de Granada Award for Singer-Songwriters and has a solid career spanning over two decades in this genre, characterized by the poetic strength of his lyrics.
Next, the poet, translator, and sinologist Pilar González España, winner of the Carmen Conde Award, took the stage to share her verses. The Argentine singer-songwriter Guada, a singer, composer, producer, and actress with a career linked to the independent music scene, then took over.
The final part of the event featured the oral performance of Alexis Díaz Pimienta, a Cuban writer, improviser, and researcher. The author is the director of the Chair of Improvised Poetry at the University of the Arts and deputy director of the Ibero-American Center for the Tenth and Improvised Verse, both based in Havana. His performance led into the grand finale of the night, which was delivered by Juan Carlos Mestre. The 2009 National Poetry Award winner brought one of the most personal and recognizable voices on the current scene.
To close the event, the audience enjoyed an emotional improvisation moment where Díaz Pimienta joined singer-songwriters Guada and Fran Fernández on stage. Their collaboration underscored the dialogue between poetry and music that has characterized the project's various editions.
Ethics and Poetry began in the spring of 2020 and is supported by the Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, through the 'X Solidaria' option on income tax returns. Since then, the initiative has organized various cultural events to promote solidarity through written, recited, and sung word.
Throughout its editions, the series has been held in different cultural venues, including Café Libertad 8 in Madrid, El Calendoscopio in Avilés, and the Jazzville venue, establishing itself as a cross-cutting meeting point between art and social action.
The series has featured authors, poets, and musicians from various generations and styles, including Ana Rossetti, Luis Alberto de Cuenca, Sheila Blanco, Mario Obrero, Eudris Planche, Bibiana Collado, Vanesa Pérez-Sauquillo, Ricardo Virtanen, Lady Alkalina, Jorge Fernández-Bermejo, Alberto Urrutia, and Arisa Vedra, as well as voices associated with performance poetry, singer-songwriters, and urban music. This continuity has allowed the project to consolidate its proposal.
In its latest editions, the project has expanded its formats and dissemination channels. In 2025, it incorporated Spanish Sign Language poetry as part of an accessibility initiative linked to cultural and social diversity. Last year, the PVE also launched the 'Un minuto para la poesía' (A Minute for Poetry) campaign, promoted on social media under the hashtag #ÉticayPoética, featuring short pieces from performances linked to social causes promoted by volunteering.
