In the next year 2024, Center of Contemporary Culture in Barcelona The CCCB will celebrate three decades of its existence through a broad program of activities that, in accordance with its conceptual principles, advance with a call to openness and centrality, and which will be articulated around three main thematic areas: City – one of the fundamental themes of centre, planet and creation. This was stated by the Director of CCB, Judit Carrera, in presenting a season that seeks to move away from catastrophic predictions to help, through art and community culture, build new perceptions and models of sustainable coexistence: “Culture must work to envision a non-apocalyptic future.” We have already passed the diagnostic stage and reached the point of no return, and we need new models. Through creativity and the will to live with others, we can build alternative worlds.”
The event also helped take stock of the year ending, reinforcing the upward trend in visitor numbers. Specifically, with regard to the in-person audience, in 2023 the CCCB will offer the largest number of visitors since the outbreak of the pandemic: it is estimated that by the end of the year, there will be 366,000 people, 12% more than in 2022 and more than 40% compared to 2021. Looking to the near future, with Carreras moving forward, the CCCB’s budget for 2024 will be around €15.5 million, which represents a 14% increase compared to the year that is just death. In fact, this is the highest budget in the center’s history, which allows, according to the director, “to restore the ambition of the project before the 2008 crisis.” Carreras also wanted to save some memorial and affectionate words from the former head of communications at the center, Emma Morawho left us only a few weeks ago due to a short illness.
From the city to the rainforest
In the exhibitions section, after assigning individual samples to European, African and Chinese cities, the 2024 CCCB will give importance to American suburban neighborhoods, a symbolic space in which 60% of the American population is concentrated. And so is the cultural journalist Philip Engel He sponsored the exhibition Suburbs. Building the American dream (March 19 – September 18), an exhibition that traces the cultural history of the classic American neighborhood, an urban model that moves between utopian ambition and its dystopian opposite. Show who has advice Francis MuñozPhD in Urban Geography, explores the various political, environmental, racial and gender implications of its consolidation as a global cultural imaginary, in an itinerary that includes historical materials, photographs, illustrations and unpublished publications byAM Homes I Anna Galvan And facilities Joel Meyertz, Norman Rockwell s Nina Lynnamong other things.
In the summer it was his turnAgnès Varda (1928-2019), a mainstay in the new mystique and the history of the auteur’s cinema. From July 17 to December 8, a solo exhibition produced by… French cinema -In collaboration with Ciné-Tamaris- it will cover the main thematic axes of a multifaceted path, from its connections with art history to the social and political dimension of its discourse. The exhibition is sponsored by Florence Tissot In cooperation with Rosalie VardaThe director’s daughter has advice from the journalist and critic Emma Merino To be adapted to CCCB. “Anges Varda’s work reflects very well the spirit of the CCCB,” says Judit Carreras. “His attitude challenges and inspires us with curiosity, joy, humor and a sense of discovery.” [Varda] He used to say that the three cornerstones of his career were inspiration, creativity and the will to participate. This is the slogan we will create ourselves in 2024.”
On the other hand, it stems from a commitment to the current climate emergency Amazon future grandparents (November 12, 2024 – April 27, 2025), an exhibition that aims to provide a space for dialogue between the wisdom of indigenous peoples and the latest scientific developments. The exhibition is sponsored by Claudio CarrerasIt offers an immersive journey through various academic projects and artistic works that address in an interdisciplinary manner the main environmental challenges of today’s Amazon region, which has become the center of the great geopolitical war for raw materials and natural resources. “Our goal is not to offer a requiem for the Amazon, but a love song to the planet Earth. It is an invitation to appreciate those indigenous traditions that never separate culture from nature,” says Carreras.
The exhibition program also includes the final itinerary of the exhibition Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence, which explores, through a fully interactive and experiential itinerary, the history, operation, creative possibilities, and ethical and legislative challenges of this revolutionary technology. According to its directors, the exhibition is on its way to becoming one of the most visited exhibitions in the center’s history. As a parallel activity, and under sponsorship Jordi CarrionThe Center devotes an entire program of discussions and conferences to exploring those areas where AI is changing the paradigm, from the world of ideas to legislation or artistic creation.
Culture in the face of global crises
In a year in which the future of the European continent is at stake in more than just crucial elections, the CCCB Ideas and Discussions program will intensify major global upheavals around three main thematic axes: scientific thinking, urban thinking, and political and social thought. For the first itinerary, a seminar with academics stands out Helga NovotnyWhich is considered one of the global references in the field of artificial intelligence, and the “Artificial Intelligence Revolutions” course, which will focus on the social, cultural and legislative aspects of this technology, with large participation. Yuk hwi, Mercedes Benz s Frank Pascual. Another planned cycle, “Matter and Life,” will explore today’s scientific frontiers with voices like the sound of the Nobel Prize Didier Queloz Or chemist Afelli kormaone of the Spanish scientists of international standing.
Regarding urban thought, the program is directed by: Elizabeth Gulla It focuses on two of Barcelona’s qualities today: its status as a tourist city and its status as a maritime city – and therefore more sensitive to the impacts of climate change. In this way, at the CCCB we will be able to hear from leading professionals in the field, as is the case now Margaret Crawfordprofessor of urban planning, or Italian Francesco Moscow, a great expert on maritime fronts. For its part, one of the main pillars of the political and social thought axis will be the “Climate, Capital and Democracy” debate: on March 21 and 22, in which dozens of participants will participate, including the American sociologist Nord. Craig Calhoun Or an anthropologist Shalini RandriaIt will feed thinking about the European project based on two of the phenomena that most emphasize it: the environmental crisis and the rise of authoritarian regimes and movements.
Other names that will pass through the CCCB throughout 2024 are the Palestinian writer Adania Shibli – The last exhibition in Frankfurt – which would address the situation in the Gaza Strip – was canceled due to the war; Javier Zamorawhich will begin migrations from usualIt is considered one of the books of the year in the United States. Or the Rwandan writer Academic progress, which will explore the legacy of the Rwandan genocide as part of its 30th anniversary. They will be there too Michael Walzeris recognized as one of the leading thinkers in the contemporary United States, and an expert in postcolonial theory Frantz FanonA solo exhibition will be dedicated to him Immanuel KantIn the year in which the third centenary of his birth is celebrated.
In the audiovisual section, the center will continue to bet on it City symphoniesIt is a project that seeks to produce a collection of audio-visual pieces produced by female filmmakers that testify to the cities of the twenty-first century. This is the year 2024, thanks to the association’s cooperation Visual women, the CCCB will support seven young filmmakers to create a portrait of the city of Barcelona and its urban area. In addition, the third edition of the Family Film Festival 3/99It will revolve around colors (spring) and food (fall), and will be in collaboration with the director. Elena Duque; As well as the avant-garde film programme Xcentricwhich returns with some of the major names of experimental cinema, com Maya Deren, Jaime Barrios Or missing Michael Snow.
Culture belongs to the youth
However, we cannot talk about the CCCB without talking about the Raval neighborhood, a “fascinating and complex” neighborhood, in the words of Judit Carreras, who broadcasts a large part of the center’s annual programming, especially for young audiences and teenagers. As I applied Susana Arias, Head of the Mediation Department at the CCCB, for 2024 the program of the same name will be divided into three main areas of work: Rafale, Education, Creativity and Research. Arias has influenced the Cultural Center’s commitment to the neighborhood that hosts it, a principle that will be translated specifically into two major projects: the fourth edition of the educational project School in residence I Take care of your equipmentIt is an initiative that aims to build a cooperation network between schools and cultural facilities in the neighborhood. Among other distinguished initiatives,Urban explorations», a project linking Raval students to other areas of Barcelona; or “Send data”It is a newly created proposal that examines the relationship between diseases – in this case tuberculosis – and social inequality.
Along with the initiatives associated with the Rafale, Arias influenced the will to integrate the young public as an essential conveyor of creativity programmes. In this way, for artistic residency projects Future crops – Built in collaboration with Pompidou Centre And the Hong Kong From Berlin – me staple They are joined once again by the Digital Folklore Festival MemphistTheater rehearsal programme Stage laboratory And festivals of youth thought and creativity Temporary residence I Boca. “Our desire is to find other ways to enter the CCCB and facilitate the entry of new audiences. We want to create the conditions to enjoy and oppose culture,” concludes Arias.
“Professional web ninja. Certified gamer. Avid zombie geek. Hipster-friendly baconaholic.”
