space

Barcelona opens space to promote intercultural exchange with the United States

November 14, 2016 06:32 PM | ACN

Since this Monday Barcelona forms part of the global network of cities that boast an American Space, a place to promote cultural exchange with the United Sates. The Ignasi Iglésias-Can Fabra library inaugurated this morning a centre called American Space Barcelona that will offer free activities, programmes and workshops to citizens. The programme of activities of the centre aims at providing information on the US, teaching the English language and giving academic advice to study in the North American country.Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Innovation and Culture, James Collboni, stated that the centre will allow “to overcome stereotypes, prejudices and preconceived ideas” about the United States, especially among young people. 

Barcelona to display Francoist sculptures on the street as part of a controversial exhibition

August 4, 2016 06:33 PM | ACN

The possibility that two Francoist sculptures may be displayed in Barcelona’s city centre as part of a temporary exhibition has unleashed controversy in the Catalan capital. ‘Franco-Victory-Republic: impunity and urban space’ aims to “force society to think about what Franco’s dictatorship represented” and the “impunity” this period has had “during Spain’s democracy”, explained Barcelona’s deputy mayor, Gerardo Pisarello. However, taking the exhibition to the streets by displaying the Francoist sculpture ‘Victoria’, and an equestrian sculpture of Franco himself, hasn’t gone down well with some political forces and associations in Catalonia. “In this country the executioners were not judged and the victims were not properly buried” stated ERC’s President in Barcelona’s City Hall, Alfred Bosch, adding that he considers the wounds that Franco’s dictatorship provoked not yet healed. 

First 'Open 3D' Planetarium in the world opens in Montsec, western Catalonia

March 19, 2015 10:19 PM | ACN

In 2013, the UNESCO-supported Starlight Foundation granted Montsec Observatory, located in the Catalan Province of Lleida, its own Tourism certification, for having "one of the clearest skies in the world". On 14 March, Montsec's Centre for the Observation of the Universe (COU) reopened its doors for its seventh season. This year its multimedia facility - the Eye of Montsec – has been converted into the first 'Open 3D' planetarium in the world. With a capacity of around 70 people, it is now equipped with highly advanced audiovisual equipment, recreating total-immersion virtual environments. Moreover, thanks to its retractable dome and front wall, viewers can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sky.

European Space Agency opens its tenth Business Incubation Centre, located in Greater Barcelona

November 27, 2014 10:47 PM | ACN

The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened in Catalonia an incubator for businesses working on space technologies, the first of its kind in Spain. It is located in the campus that the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) has in Castelldelfels, a coastal town next to Barcelona El Prat Airport. The incubator is located in the RDIT building of UPC, in what is known as the Energy Campus, and will take up 1,000m2 of space. There are currently four companies installed in the centre, whose operations are centred on "drones" and satellite communication. The project expects to host some 40 companies from now on until 2018. This is the tenth "Business Incubation Centre" that the ESA has opened in Europe so far.