Welcome to El Sueño Existe! Croeso!
Bienvenidos!
We are a group of people based around the town of Machynlleth situated in the Dyfi Valley of Mid Wales. The roots of our inspiration come from the life music and example of Victor Jara. This visionary musician and theatre director was part of the New Song movement in Salvador Allende’s Chile.
Following the success of the 3-day El Sueño Existe politics and arts festivals dedicated to Victor Jara which have been taking place in Machynlleth every two years since 2005, we are continuing to develop opportunities and ideas for cultural expression, social justice and human rights.
Read the mission statement of our festival here
The last festival took place in Machynlleth, 28, 29 and 30 July 2017.
Click here to see photos by Kevin Hayes of Festival El Sueño Existe 2017
Click here to see a film by Malcolm Boorer of El Sueño Existe Festival 2017
Upcoming Events
The next El Sueno Existe festival will focus on MEXICO and WOMEN OF LATIN AMERICA. The dates will be 16th, 17th, 18th August 2019.
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
See acommodation list here
(Ignore ‘sold out’ message on some accommodation listings – this relates to a previous festival)
Volunteer opportunities available
Please click on the link below to download your application form and we look forward to hearing from you
We are working on the programme. Top Anglo-Chilean band, Quimantu are confirmed for the Saturday and the festival will once again offer a heady mix of radical music, poetry, dance and discussion.
There will be a strong focus on the recent election of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [Amlo for short] ; a socialist whose leadership may at last offer hope and social justice for the country.
News 12/06/2019
Check out Alex Etchart performing Balderamma, Alex is joining us at ESE this year, very talented and inspired musician not to be missed ! For updates on artists and performers press the button on the top ribbon….
More News
An opportunity to read an introduction to the El Sueño Existe Festival written by Tim Hollins, a committee member and coordinator of the El Sueño Existe team.
25/04/2019
An inspirational quote from Francisco Dominguez, national secretary of Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, who is also a Chilean exile, academic & activist supportive of our festival:
“In all my many years as an activist in Britain, I have found that one of the most beautiful gestures and commitment with Latin America’s struggles is the El Sueño Existe – Victor Jara Festival, Machynlleth, in the depths of marvellous West Wales. Organised to celebrate the worldview and music of Chilean singer, Victor Jara, to tell the world that his dream, our dream, of a better world goes on, still over four decades after his assassination by Chilean fascism. Don’t miss this unique festival, 16/17/18 August 2019, this year celebrating the victory of the progressive President “AMLO” in Mexico, all things Mexican, and Women of Latin America.
El Sueno Existe is cultural and political solidarity at its very best.”
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In 1976, a group of Chileans in exile painted a mural on a student common room wall in the Leeds University Union building. Later hidden behind a temporary ceiling and kitchen wall, the mural was finally uncovered in 2017.
A recreated cloth version of this banner will be unveiled at the El Sueño Existe Festival 2019!
29/03/2019
Listen to an interview from The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4 with Tony Corden (founder of the El Sueño Existe festival) about Victor Jara’s murderers being at last brought to justice, recorded in summer of 2018.
A clip of our friend Valentina creating a charcoal drawing of Victor Jara, This will be coming to the El Sueño Existe festival … Click Here
Sueño Festival Organising committee
Thank you to our funders
We gratefully acknowledge generous funding from Victorina Press and our anonymous donors. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Muchas gracias.
