Old rural pigsty converted into a cultural center

An old pigsty in the town of Moià has been converted into a new cultural center with a focus on provoking critical thinking.

The new space, named ‘A cobert’, is run by artist and poet Nerea Campo along with the curator of the Moià contemporary arts festival Ex Abrupto, Eudald Pla.

‘A cobert’ aims to promote artistic creation, critical thinking, and generating thought in rural areas by hosting a program of book presentations and musical performances. 

The new center was inaugurated in January with a poetry reading by local Moià poet Francesc Cañas, as well as Àngels Moreno, winner of the Maria Mercè Marçal prize for poetry in 2017. At the opening session, they presented their latest publications, 'Ad Absurdum' and 'L'Agulla.'

Pla also explained that the new arts ceter is located on one of the oldest and most historic streets in the town, on Carrer del Salt, where decades ago stood the old pigsty. 

Seven years ago, with the help of the Ex Abrupto collective, "more punk and underground" artistic activities began in the location, Pla explains. Now, however, coupled with Nerea Campo, they wanted to fully restore the space and give it "a new dimension."

Pla and Campo aim to use the space to go beyond art and give voice "to new ways of thinking, such as feminism or environmentalism." 

In addition, the locale will be a space free of alcohol and meat.

The location has three separate spaces: a large room for group events, a small exhibition hall, and a covered garden for reading and meditating. 

The organizers want to give a boost to the professionalization of art in rural spaces, and therefore some of the activities that will take place there will be paid.