CERCLE 1

11 TheBarcelonaRoyalArtisticCircle isanartistic institution that was founded in1881with theaimofpromotingall kindsof ar- tisticandcultural activities.The institutionhas takena leading role in the artistic and social life of the city, and especially so duringthe latteryearsof the19thcenturyandthe firstdecades of the 20th century. Some of the most distinguished Catalan artistshavebeenmembers, such asHermenAngladaCamara- sa, Ramon Casas, Apel∙lesMestres, JoaquimMir, IsidreNonell or JosepMasriera tonamebuta few, and the library ishome to a large documentary collection that covers the 19th and20th centuries. J. FèlixBentzhasbeenPresident since2009. Itseems that the institution isundergoingaprocessofmodernisa- tionand restructuring... Quite so. The ‘Artistic’, has it has always been known, is look- ing to recover thesocial andcultural importance ithashadover several decades.Wemustn’t forget that the institutionhas sur- vivedseveralwarsandchangesof governmentover the last135 years. There have been moments of glory and euphoria, with great economicprosperity, but therehave alsobeen critical pe- riods. We have had the luck of being able to carry on despite all this, evermaintaining theoriginal spiritwehavehad sincewewere founded, alwaysmaintaining that freedom.The institutioncame aboutasanorganizationofpeoplewhosought tonoblypromote culture - theFineArts - froman independent, non-political and free institution. Despite our vicissitudes, we have always been able to remainbeyond reproach in thisaspect. What doyou think is theCircle’smain function? It must be a platform to provide tools for artists to be able to promote and publish their work, both in Barcelona and in the restof theworld.Wearevery interested inpromoting linksand agreements with all kinds of institutions: universities, muse- ums, associations, etc. However, theyneednot necessarilybe in the same cultural context, but they can collaborate in the cre- ationof connections togo further. Social networks have transformed communication. Howdoes the Circlemake thebest of the floodof new technologies? Art associations have felt a drop inmembership thanks to the economic recession and the new technologies applied to com- munication that allow people to communicate from home via forums, chatroomsand social networks. We aim for the personal touch, a live encounter that is more emotional and satisfactory. To do this we have resources that allowpeople to connect easily in a context that stimulates con- versation, knowledge, and enjoyment. The new restaurant, for example, has been designed with the aim of integrating per- fectly into the concession areas, all the whilemaintaining and elegant style in tonewith the place. Soonwewill carry out the olddreamof theBarcelonaArt Institute, an institution thatuntil nowwe have only dreamed about. This is a great project that will heighten the imageof theCirclevia the creationof an insti- tute dedicated to teaching academic art that follows the refer- ents thatwe shall seek toestablishand support. But theCirclehasn’t always been just art - it has alsobeenabout music, literature, theatreanddance, hasn’t it? Exactly - there are many things left to do that we are deeply committed to, with the energy and will to do things well. We live in important times,markedbynoble intentionsandsugges- tions. It has been our aim to reinstate the Circle’s orchestra, as well as the traditional masquerade ball that was celebrated in the Carnival celebrations in 1889. In the librarywe have some of themoredelicateposterscreated for theoccasionbysomeof ourmost famousmembers. It’s hard to steer such a stately ship, especially one located in a placewith suchhistory... Of course it’s not an easy task. In1917 theArtistic Circle came tobear the titleofRoyalArtisticCirclebyorderofHMAlphonse XIII. The institutionmoved headquarters on several occasions before taking uphome in themagnificent Pignatelli Palace and CasaBassols,where it isnow, andhasbeen forover fiftyyears. Our home is protected historic building and consequently has a delicate and costlymaintenance programme. Our aimnow is to restore itsoriginal splendourand tohelp recover its roleasa referencewithinBarcelona society, aswell as to project its im- ageasacultural institutionaround theworld.█ ‘The“Artístic”willregain itsoriginalsplendour ’