Catalonia
odd: label: Description
content: Catalonia is a distinctive society in northeastern Spain, bounded by the Pyrenees to the north and the Ebro River Delta to the south. Long known as a país d'acollida, a "welcoming country", Catalonia has been defined by its location and its thousand-year history of social and cultural integration.

Archaeological evidence of this history appears in local communities stretching across the region. The Roman settlement of Barcino has become the modern city of Barcelona. Dating from the Middle Ages, castles of diverse Christian kingdoms, Romanesque churches dedicated to local saints, and Moorish structures and gardens from the Muslim Caliphate of Al-Andalus are scattered across the countryside. 

It was only during the 19th century that the Renaixença (or Catalan renaissance) reclaimed the Catalan language and way of life found in families and farms across the region, elevating it to a cultural identity. Along with the Catalan language, the Renaixença celebrated local traditions, historical sites and stories, along with the region's unique landscape. 

Catalonia continues to be characterized by the integration of immigrants from northern Africa, Europe and from around the globe. Its population has more than doubled during the 20th century, from under three million to seven million, due to the continued influx in immigration. Currently, the Catalan language has more than four million native speakers. To many Catalans, the language is a key component of their identity. 

As Catalans searched for new ways to show their changing sense of identity, they created new cultural expressions and organizations. They developed an array of cultural associaciós, or associations to celebrate local cultural expressions and promote social cohesion. Even now, many Catalans channel their bold creativity into these cultural heritage enterprises to ensure the vitality of their local cultures and their livelihoods, which include ethnic foods and herbal cures, celebration of the Falles in March and associations that build castelles (human towers) for competition at festivals. 

Catalonia was also home to Antoni Gaudí, the best-known architect of the Modernist movement. Across the region, the contemporary architectural monuments of Gaudí and his protégés reference Catalonia's role as an international hub for technology and innovation. Other famous Catalonian artists include Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Antoni Tàpies. In other social circles, the FC Barcelona, also known as the Barça, and RCD Espanyol are notable as the biggest soccer clubs in Catalonia.


The program is co-produced with the Government of Catalonia's Department of Popular Culture and Cultural Associations. Additional research and content support is made possible by Adifolk: the Association for the Diffusion of Folklife, and the Fira Mediterrània de Manresa. 

PRODUCTION

Curators: Michael Atwood Mason, Cristina Diaz-Carrera, David Ibáñez

Coordinator: Pablo Molinero

Interns: Ximena Banegas, Caroline Diemer, Aidan Keys, Samantha Mason, Josi Miller, Teo Rogers, Mariángel Villalobos

Research Associates: Pablo Giori, Meritxell Martín i Pardo

Department of Popular Culture and Cultural Associations: Angels Blasco Rovira, Olga Brea, Elisendra Estany Ricart, Cristina Sanchis Ferrer

Adifolk Logistics Team: Mònica Amorós, Ivan Besora, Oriol Ramírez

Presenters: Xevi Collell, Lluís Flores, Pablo Giori, Asia Jankos, Meritxell Martín i Pardo, Imma Pulido, Mar Rodrigo Salse, Emily Socolov, Guillermo Soler, Ricard Vinas de Puig

PARTICIPANTS

 Alidé (Music) Alidé Lucia Sans Mas, Lleida 

Agrupació de Colles de Geganters de Catalunya (Association of Groups of Giants Performers in Catalonia) Adria Esteve Sabate

Àlex García-Miguel Ricart, Barcelona 

Clàudia Abellán Sebastià, Barcelona 

Emerita Velasco Rodríguez

Ivan Garriga Marin

Jordi Mullor Tenas

Marta Lopez Paramio

Valentin Serra Jubero, Barcelona 

Vicente Conde Pascual

Xavier Barnadas Figueras, Lleida

Agrupació del Bestiari Festiu i Popular de Catalunya (Association of Festive and Popular Bestiari of Catalonia) Adria Esteve Sabate

Àlex García-Miguel Ricart, Barcelona

Clàudia Abellán Sebastià

Emerita Velasco Rodríguez

Ivan Garriga Marin

Jordi Mullor Tenas

Marta Lopez Paramio

Valentin Serra Jubero

Vicente Conde Pascual

Xavier Barnadas Figueras

Associació de Geganters i Grallers d'Oliana (Association of Giant and Graller Performers of Oliana) David Nuñez Orrit

Jesús Bach Marqués

Josep Maria Viladrich Jounou, Lleida 

Pau Jounou Coma

Ubaldo A. Sanchez Hernandez

Yolanda Alcorta

BakerÀngel Zamora Fernandez, Girona 

BlacksmithEnric Pla Montferrer, Barcelona 

Ceramics, PotteryJan Madrenas

Pep Madrenas

Cobla Catalana dels Sons Essencials (Music) Alfonso Rojo Corbera, guitar, trombone

Antoni Rocosa Girbau, clarinet, tenora

Heura Gaya Escué, vocals, gralla

Ivó Oller Soler, trumpet

Jordi Guixé Torres, saxophone, tible

Laia Carreras Vilagran, manager

Magí Canyelles Armengol, tenora

Marc Vall Balañà, percussion

Marcel Casellas Navinés, bass

Marcel Puig Castells, fiscorn

Pere Joan Moliner Pedrós, flabiol, tamborí

Ricard Parera Ràfols, percussion

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls (Les Joves Human Tower Team) Jaume Galofre Gras

Nerea Moreno Lopez

Pau Cabanas Montcusí

Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls (La Vella Human Tower Team) David Torvisco Sancho

Miguel Angel Cobo Fernández

Unai Martinez Robert

Diables d'Igualada (Devils of Igualada) Frederic Marimon Muñoz

Joan Josep Romero Ramon 

Jose Bros Bros

Santiago Carbonell Siles

Dry-stone masonRoger Solé-Coromina, Barcelona

Esbart Ciutat Comtal (Dance) Alba Morella I Teixidor

Eduard Roca Bigorra

Guillem Amoros Bigas

Laia Fuentes Moradell

Laura Perez Teis

Lluis Calduch Ramos

Maria de les Neus Pascual Jane

Maria Teresa Agusti Morales, director

Sergi Ojeda Miro

Paulino Rogelio Fernández Gutiérrez, designer

Espai de So (Music) Lluís-Xavier Flores Abat

Miquel Àngel Flores Abat

Sergio Masip Garcia, instrument maker

Rondalla dels Ports

Falles del Pirineu (Torches from the Pyrenees) Guillem Manuel Esteban Isus, Lleida, torch maker

Marc Ballesté Escorihuela, Lleida, cultural specialist

Federació Catalana d'Entitats Catifaires (Catalan Federation of Flower Carpet Organizations) Angel Gallart Portas, Barcelona

Vicenta Pallarès i Castelló

Fishermen, Fishing Ramón Boquera, Girona

Félix Boquera, Girona 

Glass artistJordi Pages Traveria, Girona

Herbalist Eva Rosich Compte, Girona 

Ivan & Pilar (Music & Dance)Ivan Caro Obejo, Lleida

Maria Pilar Planavila Vargas, Lleida, accordion

Joan Garriga i el Galàctic Mariatxi (Music) Francisco Rambo Batista Clota, drums 

Rocky Gipsy, guitar

Joan Garriga Martinez, vocals, guitar, accordion

Juan Batista Serviole

Mariano Roch Lopez, bass

Les Anxovetes (Music) Marta Perez Rebugent, vocals

Marta Serra Gafarot

Montserrat Fernandez Ferrermoner, vocals

Salvador Alfonso Gallego Salazar, guitar

Tona Gafarot, vocals

Xavier Pascual Prats, bass

Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés (Music) Angel Luis Medina Ramos, sound engineer

Marcel Bagés Rubí, guitar

Maria Arnal Dimas, vocals

Sculpture, Festive imagery Miquel Grima Mora, Barcelona

Megan Marlatt, University of Virginia 

Street decor Josep Maria Contel Ruiz, Barcelona 

Trencadís artist (Mosaic) Livia Garreta Anglada, Barcelona 

Vegetable fibersJoan Farré i Oliver, Barcelona 

Yacine and the Oriental Groove (Music)Yacine Belahcene, vocals 

Massinissa Aït-Ahmed, bass 

Gabriel Fletcher Ventura, guitar 

Alexandre Guitart, drums
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2018, Series 3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials