The day of Sant Jordi is at hand, and beyond the traditional stroll looking for a good book and a rose, April 23rd is also a marked date for the world of culture.
Throughout the day, the different metropolitan cities have programmed fairs, concerts, book presentations, literary talks, local author signings and a whole series of alternative events to experience the day in a different way. From AMIC Cultura we have made a selection of ten proposals to enjoy one of the best days of the year.
The roses will dress Can Negre again
In Baix Llobregat, they have their particular Casa Batlló. Can Negre will once again be one of the attractions of Sant Jordi in Sant Joan Despí, dressing with roses this jewel of modernism by Josep Maria Jujol. This culturaL space, furthermore, will also feature the presence of the beasts of the city, the Dragon Braulio and the Dragoness Espurna. In this city, there will also be exhibitions, conferences, workshops, concerts, theatrical performances, contests, cultural itineraries, some within the Primavera Cultural program in Sant Joan Despí with activities that will continue after Sant Jordi, with different auditions, gathering of gegantons, the Mercat Jove or the Sant Jordi concert by the Laud’ars orchestra.
A special day at the Fundació Úniques
From this Barcelona foundation (Magdalenes street, no. 2), they invite everyone who wishes to spend the day with them, with a whole program that connects art, poetry, and thought. At 16 h, Mònica de Dalmau will present and sign her book Ull Diu. A little later, Marta Darder will do so with hers, Sol i Sal. At 17 h, it will be Pilar Àlvarez's turn and, finally, at 18 h Pilar Bonet and María José González Madrid will present the book Cosmología esotérica, a publication that recovers and values the legacy of creative women who, since the late 19th century, linked art, spirituality, and knowledge as forms of personal and collective transformation. In addition, from April 22 to May 2, they will dedicate La Finestra de l’artista to the book. During these days, their artistic display will feature different works that have used the book format as support, plastic expression, or concept. On the other hand, they will also have for sale works by Pilar Álvarez, Marta Ballvé, Olga Mateu Colet, limited editions by Marta Darder, by Agustina P. Fioretti, the books by Eva Armisén, Mari Chordà, Mònica de Dalmau, Pilar Bonet, and María José González Madrid.
The photobook also celebrates Sant Jordi
The Photographic Social Vision Foundation has organized a whole day dedicated to the photobook, with presentations, signings of these books, and the exhibition Diez Miradas esenciales para la història de la fotografia, with images, some unpublished, by names like Isabel Azkarate, Joana Biarnès or Eugeni Forcano, among others, and all for sale. This celebration is an initiative they started in 2023, where around its headquarters, at Pati de Villa Alegre (Via Agusta no. 75), from 11 in the morning until 8 p.m., there will be a whole specialized fair with stalls from publishers like Blume, Ediciones Posibles, Editorial RM, La Fábrica and Phree. Throughout the day, visitors will be able to buy books and roses, and all the money they collect will go to finance the foundation's projects.
Spring Festivals in l’Hospitalet
In this city, for Sant Jordi they are also having a big party with the celebration of the Spring Festivals. Throughout the day and until April 26, they have programmed different cultural and festive proposals distributed throughout all neighborhoods. Concerts, traditions, family activities and street shows will turn the city into a large open-air stage. The Terrats en Cultura initiative stands out, at the Bellvitge neighborhood Library, where there will be a tribute to Robe Iniesta in acoustic format, plus an open jam session. In the city center, filmmaker Marcel Barrena will kick off the party with the proclamation and afterwards, giants, devils and the rest of the traditional and popular culture groups of l'Hospitalet will parade through the streets.
Space of dialogue in the libraries of Barcelona
Until April 21st, the Libraries of Barcelona once again offer readers a meeting space with writers as a prologue to Sant Jordi day. They do so with the Diàlegs de Sant Jordi, where writers will converse based on their latest works and with a common thread: the Mediterranean understood as a space of memory, of conflict and of culture and tradition, a broad and diverse region that connects languages, history and a collective imaginary. Activities require prior ticket reservation.
El Poble-sec is transformed into the setting of a unique festival
Until April 23, Poble-sec transforms into the setting for a unique festival: Ta V Trobada d’Editorials Independents + Sant Jordi La Cañada – Candaya. What was born from the complicity between the indomitable spirit of the cultural bar La Cañada and the literary rigor of Editorial Candaya now reaches its fifth edition. Five years pushing forward an alternative to the most commercial Sant Jordi. And they do it with five days full of activities related to gastronomy, music, art, and especially books. Books that will be the protagonists of April 23 because, throughout the day, the stalls in the square will host authors who will sign their books. You can consult the full program here.
Exhibition of Dragons and about fifty entities in Santa Coloma
The Plaça de la Vila of Santa Coloma Gramenet will experience on Sant Jordi's day a participatory day with about fifty stalls of roses and books, and the participation of local writers who will sign their books throughout the day. The square will host 49 entities, three bookstores and two publishers from Santa Coloma. Beyond the books, stands out the exhibition of the dragons from Santa Coloma, Blai and Nel·la, the stall of the Municipal Library Network, where different stories will be told whispered, and the exhibition of popular and traditional culture with stick dance and sardanas.
Beyond books: graphic art
In some of the stalls everywhere, very original gifts like this will be made: at the Manifest Llibres publishing house's [stall] there will be a limited edition by Marian Vélez, with 100 copies. A poster with which they want to start a new tradition: inviting illustrators to imagine Sant Jordi with this independent publishing house. This year the illustration revolves around the idea that "no world is inevitable". Because they denounce that "in a system obstinate in making us think that there is no alternative and that the future is dark", radical culture continues to be "one of the spaces from where to imagine new (and better) forms of life". They will be on Diputació street in Barcelona.
Badalona, 46th Book Fair
In the city of Badalona, the celebration of Sant Jordi's day also arrives with the 46th edition of the Book Fair, which will take place one more year in Pompeu Fabra square from this Tuesday, April 21, until Thursday 23. Its schedule will be from 9 h until 21 h. Beyond this fair, Badalona has also programmed different activities. At the tent of the Xarxa Municipal de Biblioteques de Badalona they will offer a reading corner, a show for children and various workshops throughout the city. On the other hand, the Espai Betúlia tent will host several round tables related to the world of books. The program is completed with the celebration of the Jocs Florals in the Sant Roc neighborhood and the XIV Sant Jordi Fair, which will take place on Francesc Layret street, on Temple street, in Plaça de la Vila and on Passeig de la Salut.
El Raval lives Sant Jordi intensely
In the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, one more year, some fifty entities will fill the rambla with activities and stalls. From 10 am to 8 pm, whoever walks along the Raval rambla will be able to learn about the work carried out by some fifty entities, collectives, associations and neighborhood residents, acquire pieces and handmade material made by their users and enjoy about forty programmed activities, among which there will be, workshops, storytellers, talks, readings and musical performances, distributed in four spaces: Literary Space, Stage, Play Space and Tent Space.
