The Macarulla institute

Under the motto of Art in height, the city of Sant Julià de Lòria wants to become a benchmark of popular art and crafts in the Pyrenees. The aim is to achieve this with the creation of the Macarulla Institute, for the Promotion of Crafts and Popular Culture in the Pyrenees.

Organitzation

This organization was born with the desire to promote and encourage crafts and folk art in the Pyrenees,
bringing together different spaces and entities of the Parish.

The three basic pillars would be El Comú de Sant Julià de Lòria, the Fundació Julià Reig and the University of Andorra.

Sant Julià de Lòria Town Hall

The council would basically provide logistical and financial support to the project.

Sergi Mas space

The building of the old Council (Casa Comuna) is the ideal place to establish a permanent exhibition of pieces by Sergi Mas, because the ground floor rooms, Council Chamber, Fireplace Room and lobby, already contain pieces made of great beauty by the artist with traditional techniques such as stained glass or wooden work "musicats" (woodcut style of the Principality). It may also include temporary exhibitions related to artisan residences, or popular culture in general.

Centre Cultural i de Congressos Lauredià

As the Center has very different types of spaces, it is ideal for conferences, symposia, workshops, fairs and even exhibitions.

Casa Bonet (Aixirivall)

The town hall offers this former manor house to create an artistic residence for artisans. This iconic building has a home and a barn that could become a residence and accommodation for more than one craftsman at the same time. In this way, the population close to the city is brought to life, a building is revalued and the richness of the natural heritage of the Principality is highlighted.

Julià Reig fundation

The Foundation can provide support, both logistically and financially, to research and investigation projects in this field.


University of Andorra

The University’s work is basic proposing continuing education, research collaborations with artisans or popular culture studies that initiates a project with the Institute, whether it is framed within its UNESCO professorship or not.

Objectives

  • Carry out studies on the production and dissemination of the handicrafts and popular arts, as well as their social impact, improving the city’s heritage and the status of artisans.

  • Undertake research with other creative cities of handicrafts and folk art on contemporary approaches to folk art notion and on the collective memory of post-industrial cities.

  • Implement a strategy to revitalize art, culture and tourism to promote the emergence of a mechanism for the participation of artists in the animation of the territory and support local artistic projects of creation and structuring in the field of handicrafts and popular art.

  • Develop training programs for young people in artistic professions, the development of skills for artists and artisans, especially through the use of new technologies.

  • Develop cooperation with other cities in the Network in a pattern of specific and inclusive projects that promote a dynamic of rapprochement between peoples and North-South cooperation.

  • Encourage young people to develop skills in the fields of crafts and folk arts, innovation and creativity.

  • Organization of a Forum of Crafts and Popular Arts, a platform for local, international, academic and professional experts to exchange ideas on the protection and promotion of traditional ability and practices, perhaps in the framework of activities of the University of Andorra.

  • Encourage through fairs and activities to promote local crafts and popular culture.