1971 Salute to Spain

The 1971 Salute to Spain was the 21st annual Birmingham Festival of Arts, running from March 19 to April 4, 1971. The event included numerous performances, exhibits and events celebrating Spanish arts and culture, including a week-ling "International Fair" at Boutwell Auditorium.

The festival was chaired by Bettie Cox. The guest of honor was Spanish Ambassador to the United States Jaime Arguelles and his wife. Among the planned overtures to Spain included decorating light poles with national and provincial flags; temporarily renaming streets in Spanish; dressing shop windows with Spanish themed displays, and costuming police officers as members of the Guardia Civil.

The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra welcomed Barcelona-born pianist Alicia de Larrocha; the Birmingham Music Club sponsored Flamenco performances by José Greco; the Alabama Ballet performed Georges Bizet's "Carmen;" and the Jewish Community Center staged a production of the Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha."

References

• Thomas, Robert McG. Jr (November 29, 1970) "Birmingham Civic Leaders Come to Town to Beat Drums for Arts Festival." The New York Times