FLORA International Flower Festival will celebrate its sixth edition from 16 to 26 October 2023 in Córdoba, Spain with the theme of “Plant intelligence”. The announcement was made by the mayor of Córdoba, José María Bellido, together with the founding partner of Zizai Cultura, Juan Ceña, in an event that took place in the city at Orive Palace.
For yet another year FLORA will bring together some of the world’s finest floral artists so they can present their plant creations in the most iconic courtyards in the city of Córdoba. As in previous editions, a strong program of accompanying activities will be organized, contributing both to the growth of the city and to making the event a focal point for contemporary botany, in which you can enjoy a unique experience. For ten days, the city will be immersed in new visions of art, music, the performing arts, thought and other disciplines, all connected to nature and the way in which we relate to it.
Juan Ceña, founding partner of Zizai Cultura and the driving force behind FLORA, stated that “Not only has FLORA established itself as the largest contemporary floral art festival that exists today, it has also transformed itself, edition after edition, into a unique place from which to rethink the world in which we live through botany”. Ceña highlighted the role of Zizai Cultura as the creator and main funder of FLORA, the significant financing and involvement of Córdoba City Council, the support of sponsors and the collaboration of the IMTUR and RENFE as the official train, and also announced the addition of Hammam Al-Ándalus as a festival partner.
The founding partner of Zizai Cultura also announced the official theme of the sixth edition of the festival: “Plant intelligence”. “We believe that the theme will be challenging and a real source of inspiration, both for the artists and the people who come to enjoy the festival. Faced with “artificial intelligence”, this year we want to reflect on the sophisticated intelligence of plants and flowers, beings with a surprising creative capacity to solve problems and survive in different environments”.
José María Bellido, mayor of Córdoba, declared that “FLORA is a great event that helps put Córdoba on the map, through floral art. It is a Córdoba brand and much more. FLORA is a vision of the future. Contemporary art. Rebellion in the face of conformity. Sustainability. FLORA is abundance in its broadest sense”. “Today is a good day to remind ourselves of the fact that FLORA contributes 14.2 million euros to the city”, concluded the mayor.
Inmaculada Silas, the acting provincial representative of Human Resources and Tourism of the Provincial Council of Córdoba, noted that “To talk of FLORA is to talk of an initiative that always manages to astonish visitors, using the city’s heritage and architecture as the basis of the creative work of its participants, who, for several days, transform unique corners of Córdoba into an ephemeral and volatile work of art”.
Leopoldo Izquierdo, director of Fundación Cajasur-Palacio de Viana, explained that “Since the very beginning and until now, FLORA has had the unconditional support of the Fundación Cajasur-Palacio de Viana and has since become the world’s leading exponent of floral art. Its consolidation is further proof of the interest the people of Córdoba have in culture as well as all those who visit the prestigious event, which not only brings culture to Córdoba but also promotes the city at international level. Therefore, it more than fulfils the aims and objectives of Fundación Cajasur”.
José Juan Jiménez Güeto, the canon spokesperson of the Córdoba Cathedral Chapterhouse, stressed that “The Cathedral Chapterhouse collaborates, within its capacity, in improving the life of the city, its development, its promotion and its well-being. This is the spirit that has motivated us since 1236. It is for this reason that we wanted to once again join forces with FLORA for the 2023 edition, as it is an artistic and cultural project for the city, positioning Córdoba as the capital of contemporary floral art”.
For the third year running, the festival is running Patio Talento FLORA, a call for submissions designed so that new artists from all over the world can participate in FLORA Festival alongside world-renowned floral artists. Through this call for submissions, FLORA offers artists or collectives that have never undertaken a large-scale floral installation the opportunity to create work presented in the competition alongside the festival’s four other installations, produced by great international floral artists.
The Flora Journal 