Second edition of ‘Apropa Cultura’ Week kicks off

Barcelona (CNA).- A party at the Barcelona Auditorium this Monday evening will be the starting shot for the 2^nd edition of ‘Apropa Cultura’ Week. The initiative, aiming at claiming universal access to culture, involves 63 cultural amenities from 19 municipalities in Catalonia. More than 1,500 social entities from all over Catalonia, in collaboration with these amenities, have designed a wide range of activities addressed to people at risk of social exclusion. There will be organised trips for these groups so they can attend plays, museums and other cultural events. In total during the week social organisations will make up more than two hundred cultural events throughout Catalonia with theatre, dance, circus, music and visual arts proposals. There will also be meetings between the groups which benefit from the initiative and artists, guided tours, training sessions and even the opportunity for people with disabilities to go on stage.

The programme ‘Apropa Cultura’, a pioneer initiative in Europe aiming at opening culture to citizens at social risk, reaches its 10th anniversary and users, artists, social organisations and authorities will gather together to celebrate it at the Barcelona Auditorium. The event will be host by the journalist Toni Puntí, and will be attended by the director of ‘Apropa Cultura’, Sònia Gainza, the Catalan Minister for the Presidency, Neus Munté, and the third deputy mayor of Barcelona, ​​Laia Ortiz.

More "commitment"

In a press conference this Monday, the director of ‘Apropa Cultura’, Sònia Gainza, requested “a change” from both the public administrations and the amenities associated with ‘Apropa Cultura’. After 10 years creating the "spark" of this programme, “we must now get to work", Gainza stated.

The director of the programme demanded from the administration a "change of approach" in order to "preserve" the space of culture aimed at vulnerable groups. Gainza also proposed the creation of a law to "safeguard the important things", an implicit allusion to a regulation for ticket quotas reserved for these groups, so they can access cultural amenities.

Moreover, Gainza also addressed the managers of these cultural amenities, whether public or private. "They should participate more", the director requested, and they need to show their "commitment" to the programme. "The successes (of the hoarding) are also relevant to these people", she said while claiming that the ticket bookings for these groups of people must be extended to all shows.

Gainza stressed that the future challenges of this integration programme are the renewal of its structure and the profiles of the professionals and organisations they work with; and making new investments. The goal is to continue to grow and exceed the figure of 60 amenities which currently collaborate.

132,500 cultural experiences in 10 years for people at risk of social exclusion

In 10 years of existence, ‘Apropa Cultura’ has provided 132,500 cultural experiences – the number of tickets sold to people in vulnerable situations. Since the beginning of the programme, 1,573 social organisations working with people at risk of social exclusion have registered. With regard to cultural amenities, currently 63, spread over 19 Catalan municipalities, are collaborating with the organisation. These amenities reserve 2% of their season capacity at a price of €3 for vulnerable people and offer tours and activities adapted to these groups.