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Barcelona is a creative capital

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  • Art factories

    These were previously old factories and abandoned buildings. Now, they are refurbished spaces that generate culture, creation and innovation.

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  • Sónar + D

    Annual conference on creativity, technology and the digital transformation of cultural industries.

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  • Barcelona Design Hub

    A meeting, experimentation and exhibition space for the design sector.

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  • Poblenou Urban District

    This initiative promotes and generates proposals that place the Poblenou neighbourhood in the spotlight of Barcelona's creative and cultural scene.

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  • FADfest

    The FADfest is the FAD's annual event celebrating creative excellence, recognising the work of professionals and companies and bringing design closer to the public.

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  • 080 Barcelona Fashion

    A platform that seeks to give visibility to local fashion designers.

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  • Barcelona VisualSound

    Exhibition space and platform which serves to promote young audiovisual creators.

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Barcelona's creative heritage

Barcelona, with a history stretching back over 2,000 years and a unique identity, is known as a city that exudes culture and creativity. Big names in the world of contemporary art, like Picasso, Gaudí, Miró and Tàpies, have gained the city an international reputation that has been carried forward by professionals in the fields of architecture, design, photography and many other creative disciplines, who have added their talent to the legacy of these universal artists.

Barcelona is...

  • Design

    Barcelona and Catalonia are a centre of excellence in design, with a solid and financially sustainable model.

  • Trends

    Barcelona is a trend-setter in the worlds of fashion, design, architecture and music.

  • Video games

    Barcelona is a magnet for video games and online games companies, and strongly committed to this emerging sector.

  • Festivals

    Barcelona is a festival city. Music, cinema, documentaries and digital creation best represent Barcelona's creative and innovative vibrancy.

  • Food and drink

    Gastronomic Barcelona is defined by the most creative cuisine.

  • Fashion

    Brands like Desigual, Mango, Custo Barcelona and trade fairs such as 080 - Barcelona Fashion define Barcelona's fashion.

  • Cinema

    Besides being a great film and advertising set, Barcelona is also the birthplace of the ESCAC, considered one of the best film schools in the world.

  • Architecture

    From the Sagrada Família to the Torre Agbar, the Pedrera to the MediaTIC Building, the most innovative architecture is found in Barcelona.

  • Video art

    The Loop festival is an international benchmark for getting to know the best video art around.

  • Culture

    Experiencing the most creative culture live, in public places, is one of the fundamental features of Barcelona's cultural heritage.

Nonconformist and enterprising

Dynamic and lively, Barcelona has always promoted art and innovation. Proof of this are places like Barcelona's creation factories, real factories for artistic creation, and centres like ESCAC, reputed to be one of the best cinema schools in the world.

Fun art is another city asset: festivals like Loop, dedicated to video art, and Sonar, an internationally renowned showcase for advanced music and multimedia art, are the backbone of this audacious innovation.

And Barcelona also occupies a privileged position in the realm of avant-garde architecture and design.

The new Barcelona Design Hub building, Torre Agbar and the Nous Encants market at Glòries, as well the Elisava design and engineering school, are some of the architectural and design landmarks of a city that is always open to change.

Fashion is another of the city's big assets. That's why leading international companies such as Custo Barcelona, Mango and Desigual are located here, as well as fashion shows like 080 Barcelona Fashion. Even cuisine, based around the Mediterranean diet, has experienced its own artistic revolution thanks to chefs of the highest standing.

Nurturing talent

Barcelona has also become a breeding ground for talent and businesses in the video games and online games market. Growing numbers of international firms such as King, the creator of the immensely popular Candy Crush, see business opportunities and the possibility to grow in the city. What's more, the city is committed to quality university training in this emerging sector, which offers many job opportunities. It is, in short, a city that has managed to integrate its ancestral artistic heritage with new, more innovative forms of creative expression.

  • Fabra i Coats

    Is a new concept in cultural facilities, providing support for creativity, talent and innovation in the city.

    Visit Fabra i Coats
  • Museu del Disseny

    This museum brings together historical and contemporary collections from the decorative and graphic arts, ceramics, industrial design, textiles and clothing.

    Visit Museu del Disseny
  • BCD Barcelona Design Centre

    This cluster brings together and promotes companies from the Catalan design sector.

    Visit BCD
  • Escola Elisava

    One of the best design and architecture schools in Europe.

    Visit Elisava
  • ESCAC School of Cinema

    This cinema and audiovisual school is considered to be one of the best in the world and is the cradle of many great directors, including Bayona.

    Visit ESCAC
  • FAD Foment de les Arts i del Disseny

    The leading centre in design and architecture in Catalonia thanks to its constant promoting of creative culture.

    Visit FAD