I Forum of the Observatory La Rambla "The future of La Rambla depends on Culture and Quality"

The wide cultural offering of La Rambla will incorporate reference facilities and improved quality of the offer

This morning the 1st Forum of the Rambla Observatory was held under the motto "La Rambla keeps adding up" organized by Amics de La Rambla.

The event took place at the auditorium of the CSIC Researchers' Residence in Catalonia, and was attended, among others, by the president of the Liceu, Salvador Alemany, the president of the Board of Merchants of the Boqueria Market Jordi Mas, representatives of cultural institutions on La Rambla such as the Palau Güell, the Tablao Flamenco Cordobés, the Teatre Poliorama, or FNAC Rambles, and the councillor for Ciutat Vella, Albert Batlle, the councillor for Culture and Creative Industries, Xavier Marcè, and the commissioner of the Ciutat Vella Pact, Ivan Pera.

The completion of the La Rambla refurbishment, planned for February next year, must be much more than just a facelift. It is a milestone in the city's history and a unique opportunity to showcase, to the citizens of Barcelona and the rest of the world, everything La Rambla offers today and all that it could become in the coming years.

Cultural facilities as diverse as the Teatre Poliorama, the Palau Güell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tablao Flamenco Cordobés, FNAC, Jamboree, or l'Espai Moja were showcased as examples of the cultural activities on offer on La Rambla, and presented their projects and the improvements needed in their surroundings to attract the people of Barcelona to visit La Rambla.

At the Forum, four projects were presented that will further establish La Rambla as a cultural landmark of the city: the restoration of the Teatre Principal, which will offer a diverse cultural program; Liceu Mar, aimed at inspiring, impacting, and transforming societies and individuals through art and, in particular, opera and dance; La Foneria, which will become the Digital Art Center of Catalonia; and the recovery process of the Teatre Capitol for the city.

Private initiative and public-private collaboration have been highlighted through projects such as the remodeling of the Boqueria Market and its offering, the reconfiguration of La Rambla's terraces, the intention to improve the commercial offer, and the need to share La Rambla in the digital world.

Àlex Balletbó, president of Amics de La Rambla: "We want to offer a new perspective on a Rambla that we all love, that maybe many remember, few know, and even fewer use. This view is about sharing realities, imagining the future, and showing that hard work is going on"

Salvador Alemany, president of the Liceu of Barcelona: "Liceu Mar complements the activity of the Liceu Rambla, enhancing Liceu Aprèn, Liceu Apropa, or a new International Opera Center to be created"

José María Trènor, promoter of the New Teatre Principal: "The Teatre Principal will be a new space for cultural activity and innovation that is not only a city project, but a national project as well."

Toni Albaladejo: "La Rambla must be a street open to the world and to Culture"

Jordi Mas, president of La Boqueria: "The Boqueria Market must be more than just a market"

Toni Mascaró, eMascaró: "A unique narrative must be created for La Rambla, 'A city within a city'"

Maria José Pérez, Tablao Flamenco Cordobés: "It is necessary that the cultural institutions of La Rambla work together to communicate jointly, allowing La Rambla to be positioned as a Reference Space"

Amit Sharma, representative of the merchants of La Rambla: "We need new regulations that allow new types of products in La Rambla's shops"

This Forum is part of the project "La Rambla: a New Model of Urban Tourism", promoted by Amics de La Rambla with the support of the City Council and the incorporation of GetYourGuide as a strategic partner. Its aim is to integrate tourism activity on La Rambla into a model of coexistence compatible with daily life, strolling, culture, and local use; where emblematic places, establishments, and businesses become, through their products, services, and experiences, more attractive and welcoming for those of us who live in Barcelona; and where, through digital leadership, we can share with the rest of the world the La Rambla that we want.