Maite PUIGDEVALL, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
Alba COLOMBO, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
Xavier VILLANUEVA, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
Joan PUJOLAR, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
Since the beginning of the twenty first century, Catalonia, and especially its capital city, Barcelona, have received an important number of transnational immigration. If in 2000 foreign-born population was around 3%, both in Catalonia and Barcelona, in 2020 the foreign-born population in Catalonia accounted for 16,2% (1.260.619 inhabitants). In Barcelona, the foreighn population represented 21.5% (359.087 inhabitants), concentrated in total numbers in both, Sant Martí and Eixample districts, although the district with the highest percentage of foreign habitats is Ciutat Vella (with 51%), one of the city centers districts (Idescat 2021). Then we can observe the “new Catalans” 'presence in the landscape of the city, most prominently in ethnic retail, but also in public space, celebrating different festivities important for their culture and traditions.
This paper analyses the use of the space but also the controversies generated by the presence in public space by foreign communities festivities. Concretely, we focus on the Chinese, Pakistani, Filipino and Ecuadorian communities gathering data about their most prominent festivities focusing also on the space they use. Are there tensions in accessing specific and more desirable spaces? Who is involved in their organisation? Who are the participants and how inclusive or exclusive are they? Do they show signs of hybridisation, incorporating local traditions and participants? Or do they maintain or even exacerbate identity traits of their country or cultural origin? In the last element, how do these four communities inhabit the city through the celebration of their festivities and what is the level of intercultural relations between them and the rest of the neighbors or visitors of the city?
Keywords: Public space|ethnic festivals|inclusiveness| interculturality
A103306MP