Stories of the neighbourhood’s remarkable women
What makes La Barceloneta so special? Its squares, its streets, the sea, the festivals, the local organisations… but, above all, the people who have lived there, looked after it and built it up over the years. And amongst them, women have played – and continue to play – an essential role.
It is with this in mind that the Grandiosas Project was launched, driven by the SURT Foundation with the support of Barcelona City Council and the Government of Catalonia, and in collaboration with the group of older women from the Casal Cívic i Comunitari on Carrer Baluard and other local women who have joined the initiative. This initiative has sought to provide a platform and visibility for their voices, experiences and contributions, and to recognise all that many local women have done – often discreetly and behind the scenes – to make Barceloneta the neighbourhood we know today.
Over the past few months, ‘Grandiosas’ has been much more than just a project. It has been a space of trust and solidarity where the women involved have been able to look back, put their experiences into words and, above all, recognise themselves in each other’s stories.
The ‘Grandiosas’ remind us that the history of a neighbourhood is not only told through major events, but also through the little things of everyday life: looking after others, raising a family, getting involved in an organisation, helping a neighbour, working, fighting for rights, keeping traditions alive, or simply being part of and building a community.
Now, this whole process has been transformed into an exhibition that will allow us to get to know these women and gain an insight into their stories through photography. The women you will encounter in this exhibition reflect the strength of community ties and the importance of the support networks that, generation after generation, have sustained neighbourhood life.
‘Grandiosas’ Exhibition at La Fraternidad Library
On 9 November, the opening of the ‘Grandiosas’ exhibition will take place at La Fraternidad Library – a very special occasion for the participating women to share their experiences with the neighbourhood and explain, in their own words, what it has meant to be part of this project. The exhibition will be open until 9 December.
We are absolutely delighted to be able to share this moment with the whole neighbourhood. Because this project is about the women, but it is also about Barceloneta and its people. It speaks of memory, community and bonds.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Esther García and Laia Albert. Fundació SURT
