The Metropolitan Assembly Manifest 15 presents a declaration in Sant Adrià del Besòs to promote culture in the metropolitan region of Barcelona

September 13, 2024

Twelve cities in the metropolitan region of Barcelona have participated in this citizen participation process within the framework of the European Capital of Democracy, which aimed to explore and experiment with new governance spaces and democratic processes in the development of cultural policies

Photo: Helena Roig (Manifesta)

The coincidence of various events in 2024, such as the Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitan Biennale, the European Capital of Democracy (ECoD), and the implementation of the metropolitan strategic plan for the city of five million, the Metropolitan Commitment 2030, has created a unique context for collaboration between the Manifesta 15 team, the ECoD, and the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB). This alliance has led to the formation of the Metropolitan Assembly Manifest 15, a pioneering deliberative process, which publicly presented the results on September 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza de la Vila in Sant Adrià del Besós, marking the beginning of the Focus Week of the Manifesta 15 Biennale.

What have been the objectives of this deliberative process? Firstly, to harness the transformative power of culture, in a broad sense, to pose and try to answer a specific question: "How can we democratically and collectively promote a culture that contributes to the eco-social transition in the context of the Barcelona metropolitan region?" This is based on the understanding that cultural policies and agents can help move toward a more environmentally and socially sustainable model.

Secondly, to turn the outcome of this deliberative process, in which around 60 people from various municipalities in the metropolis participated, into a Declaration that — in the voice of the assembly members — includes the objectives, policies, and necessary measures to answer this question.

Finally, thirdly, to carry out a first pilot experience of metropolitan governance in the form of a deliberative assembly, as a tool to improve citizen participation in the metropolis and jointly address future challenges (such as the eco-social transition), while also serving as a model for future experiences of metropolitan governance in other areas.

The Assembly, composed of sixty people randomly selected from twelve municipalities in the metropolitan area — Badalona, Barcelona, Cornellà de Llobregat, El Prat de Llobregat, Granollers, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Mataró, Sabadell, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Terrassa — has worked intensively to formulate a Declaration that outlines the objectives, policies, and measures necessary to achieve this goal.

During three working sessions using a hybrid participation methodology that combined 3 in-person assemblies with the support of the digital platform Decidim, held between March and May 2024, participants have noted the importance of the complementarity of visions and experiences between territories. This diversity, while not fully representative of all groups, has allowed for a rich and proactive collective diagnosis to address the challenges of the metropolitan region:

Main points of the Manifesta 15 Metropolitan Assembly Declaration

• Culture as a Fundamental Right: Culture is recognized as an essential right for all individuals, highlighting its capacity to develop critical thinking and build community. In the context of the climate emergency, culture must drive structural changes to ensure well-being and ecological balance.

• Democratic and Participatory Governance: A call is made for a culture governed democratically, where decisions are made collaboratively between institutions, the cultural sector, and citizens. An equitable redistribution of cultural resources is proposed, and the importance of recognizing and dignifying all cultural manifestations in the territory is emphasized.

• Cultural Dignity and Sustainability: The need to economically and symbolically dignify the cultural world is highlighted, improving funding and working conditions for cultural professionals. Furthermore, a sustainable culture that reduces the environmental impact of cultural events and promotes ecosocial justice is encouraged.

The Manifesta 15 Metropolitan Assembly has not only served as a space for deliberation but has also established a monitoring committee to ensure the continuation of the work started. The results of the assembly will be disseminated through activities included in the Manifesta 15 program and will be communicated to the relevant bodies to promote the proposals included in the Declaration, such as the city councils of the twelve participating municipalities: Badalona, Barcelona, Cornellà de Llobregat, El Prat de Llobregat, Granollers, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Mataró, Sabadell, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Terrassa; as well as to the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Government of Catalonia, and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB).

➔ Read the full Declaration here

Monitoring Committee

To monitor the results, a monitoring committee has been established — composed of 11 self-nominated representatives from the Assembly and one representative from each initiating entity (Barcelona City Council, PEMB, and Manifesta) — which will continue working once the process is completed.

Three meetings have been held to decide the working method and approve the Declaration, to discuss how to present the Declaration to metropolitan cultural stakeholders, and to finalize and explore follow-up possibilities after the process ends.