CERCLE 1

I n order to be a referent, we have to establish a plan that specifies the aims of an institution: both general and spe- cific, the content of the artistic teaching programme and an entireseriesoforientativemethodological trainingandpre-es- tablishedcriteria that allowus toevaluate thevarious levelsof qualitywithin each category. Thuswe canwork seriously and with coherence on any academic project designed to improve the social imageof an institution, aswell as givingmeaning to both itsexistenceand its continuity. The ideal is tohave the support and contributionof specialists and renowned figures in their area, and evenmore so when we are talking about people invited toparticipate in a specific event.With theirpresenceandkindness, an institutiongradua- llycomes toposition itselfona ladder that ishard toclimb, but easy to slide down. Emeritus professors, top-flight artists, ce- lebrities and young university teachers, any of them are good, provided that great care is taken over choosing a figure and theirdiscourse.Thisalwaysneeds to follow thegeneral linesof the institution, aswell as being congruent, relevant and ratio- nal. It isessential tostructureaprocessofnormalisationwhich alwaysmakes clear the criteria tobe followed in attainingour objectives. This is the case in both general and specific terms. Thismethod is systematic and shouldembraceawide scaleof shades ofmeaningwith theaimofmaking themethodeasy to apply, albeit rigorousandnot excessively inflexible. Being a reference means a deep knowledge of social and in- tercultural context. For this reason it is important to make the most of the great potential of an historical institution to open newways of connectingwith theworld via the creation of open spaces for dialogue, teaching and artistic vanguards. Diving into the more pluralistic, cross-disciplinary and lively aspects of an institution not only ensures their survival, but their triumphant resurgence. It is key not to limit oneself to a local or provincial scope that may strangle the mainmethods an august institution should use to revive their discourse. The institution should be sup- ported by an open-minded, wide-reaching clarity, and should alwayshaveaclearuniversal andprogressivevocation. Todo this, the creationof alliances andaplanof collaboration with similarly-aligned institutions canbe of great help, as can the creationof incentives to improve theeconomic sustainabi- lityof national and international projects. Areferentmustmoveandevolveat thesame timesocietydoes, renovating stereotypesand incorporatingparts that are suited to thenewcontexts it is framed in. Itmustsearch foradistincti- vemark thatallows it toberecognisednotonly locally, butalso internationally. The value of the reference lies in its meaning and its ideological potential. This is really its heritage, and its valuegoes farbeyond themerelyarchitectural. TheBarcelonaRoyalArtisticCircle–Barcelona InstituteofArt– should therefore restart its importantmissionof international cultural creation and publication, out of pedigree if nothing else. The completion of such noble objectives, given such an institution where various artistic and humanistic disciplines come together, is the responsibility of the institution, in that it must contribute to the progress of the Fine Arts. It should promote a participative contribution that involves the city of Barcelona and its inhabitants, making artistic exchange and dialogueessential, aswell asprintingandspreadingquality in- formationopenlyamongst itsmembers. Thesearepeoplewho seek to learn from one of the city’smost historic institutions. The RAC-BIA should organise and promote activities with si- milar foreign organisations that have similar objectives, and reward all those who have shown their worth in the various sectors of art. It should serve as a vector for anyother activity whose aim is to raise the artistic or technical skill level of its members and to stimulate citizen curiosity in art bymeans of constant, coherent andconstructivework.█ 21 Thevalueof asocio-cultural referent