ABSTRACT
Cultural policies have been at the centre of the development strategies of the city of Barcelona over the past 30 years. The promotion and encouragement of participation in culture are now considered the common, higher goal of cultural projects, and so unique and individual cultural projects are becoming more accessible. At first the main priority was a renewal of Catalan culture, which had been banished and neglected during the 40 years of dictatorship under General Franco, as well as the renewal of public space for cultural expression and artistic and cultural activities, all of which were viewed as symbols of the new freedom and social unity of Barcelona. The strong cultural identity of the city, in which both Catalan and Spanish cultural traditions are intertwined, is primarily based on the extensive network of cultural entities and associations that exist in Barcelona. Barcelona, as a cultural capital, must emphasise and underline its support for local cultural practitioners.
