Barcelona’s Contemporary Municipal Archive Unveils Special Events for International Archives Week 2026
Barcelona, May 27 – The Barcelona Contemporary Municipal Archive (AMCB) has announced two free activities to celebrate International Archives Week (SIA) 2026, which will take place from June 8 to 14. This year’s SIA coincides with Barcelona’s designation as the World Capital of Architecture 2026, highlighting the crucial role of archives in preserving collective heritage and documenting the city’s rich history.
The events aim to encourage public engagement with the archive’s resources and offer unique insights into Barcelona’s architectural and urban development. Both activities require prior registration due to limited availability.
Exploring Gaudí’s Legacy Through Archival Documents
On Monday, June 8, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, a guided tour titled “Discovering Gaudí’s Work Through the Documents of the Barcelona Contemporary Municipal Archive” will be led by Xavier Garcia Subirats, Head of User Services, and Glòria Gimeno, Director of the Archive. This tour will showcase original plans of some of Gaudí’s most iconic buildings, including Casa Milá, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell.
Participants will learn about the historical context of these documents, their significance for architectural heritage, the materials used in their creation, and the preventive conservation measures implemented by the archive. This activity emphasizes the archive’s role in safeguarding documentary heritage and its strong connection to Barcelona’s architectural legacy.
Urban Projects, Neighborhood Struggles, and Feminist Genealogies
A second activity, an author-led tour titled “Urban Projects, Neighborhood Struggles, and Feminist Genealogies: Traces of the City’s Transformation in the Archive,” will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:30 PM. Blanca Valdivia, a member of the Colectivo Punto 6, will guide attendees through an exploration of Barcelona’s major urban changes since the 19th century, utilizing documents preserved in the archive.
This tour will delve into urban planning documents, architectural projects, and administrative records to illustrate how different neighborhoods have been planned and transformed over time. It will also highlight the inherent tensions between institutional development and social needs.
The session will incorporate a focus on neighborhood struggles, presenting materials that bear witness to citizen mobilization. These accounts will shed light on how the populace has influenced the city’s configuration, often advocating for public spaces, facilities, public transport, and improved quality of life. Special emphasis will be placed on the genealogies of the city’s feminist movement and its impact on integrating issues such as care work and gender-based violence into the urban agenda.
This discussion will combine the technical perspective of urban plans with the social dimension of collective demands, offering a comprehensive and nuanced view of Barcelona’s urban evolution from a feminist perspective. It presents an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the role of citizens in shaping the city and the importance of archives as tools for interpreting the past and understanding the present.
Both activities are free of charge but require advance registration due to limited spaces. Further details and the complete program for SIA 2026 can be found on the AMCB website.
Source: https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/arxiumunicipal/arxiucontemporani/es/noticias/actividades-en-el-archivo-municipal-contemporaneo-de-barcelona-durante-la-semana-internacional-de-los-archivos-2026-1638266
