From 20 to 22 November, different museums within the Xarxa de Museus Locals (XML) of the Diputació de Barcelona will open their doors to spaces usually reserved for professionals and hidden from the general public. This initiative, titled 'The museum that cannot be seen', aims to provide free activities in around thirty museum facilities across 26 municipalities in the Barcelona region.
The programme will allow visitors to learn about how collections are preserved and documented, how pieces are conserved and restored, and how heritage is researched and interpreted, bringing the public closer to the professionals who carry out these essential functions.
Activities will include guided tours of storage areas, restoration laboratories, archives, and libraries, as well as opportunities to discover archaeological sites and the work of archaeologists. Some offerings will also feature workshops, talks, and personal testimonies. Additionally, several museums have planned activities to explore lesser-known local cultural and natural heritage.
For instance, visitors can explore storage areas at the Museu Palau Mercader in Cornellà de Llobregat, the Museu Tèxtil in Terrassa, and VINSEUM in Vilafranca del Penedès, as well as archaeological sites such as Camp de les Lloses in Tona and Cova de les Toixoneres at the Prehistoric Caves of les Coves del Toll in Moià.
Other museums will take advantage of these days to open local heritage spaces, such as the Museu Torre Balldovina in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, which offers a tour of an old mill and laundry, and the Museu Municipal de Nàutica del Masnou, which includes a visit to the local cemetery.
The programme also incorporates innovative formats, such as a theatrical visit to the storage area of the Museu d'Història de Sabadell, where historical characters from the museum recount anecdotes and secrets about the collections.
This initiative is part of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the XML, which supports the management, conservation, and dissemination of cultural heritage. Currently, the XML comprises 65 facilities across 51 municipalities, coordinated by the Cultural Heritage Office of the Diputació's Culture Area.
The activities aim to highlight the contribution of local museums to the conservation, research, and dissemination of heritage, allowing the public to understand the daily work that ensures collections are preserved and shared with the community.
Participating museums include: Museu d’Arenys de Mar, Museu del Càntir d’Argentona, Museu de Badalona, Museu Municipal de Calella Josep M. Codina i Bagué, Museu Arxiu Tomàs Balvey, Museu Palau Mercader, Museus d’Esplugues, Casa Museu Verdaguer, Museu de Gavà, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, Museu del Ter, Museu de l’Aigua i el Tèxtil, Museu de Manresa – Museu del Barroc de Catalunya, Museu Municipal de Nàutica del Masnou, Museu de Moià, Museu de Montcada i Reixac, CIP Molí d’en Rata, Museu Arqueològic de l’Esquerda, Museu d’Història de Sabadell, Museu de Sant Cugat, Museu Torre Balldovina, Museus de Sitges, Museu de Terrassa, Centre d’Interpretació del Camp de les Lloses, Museu de Viladecans, VINSEUM, Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer, and Museu Romàntic Can Papiol.
This initiative by the Diputació de Barcelona aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 4 'Quality Education', number 10 'Reduced Inequalities', and number 18 'Culture and Linguistic Rights'. The SDGs were proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015 and are part of the global agenda for 2030. The Diputació de Barcelona is committed to fulfilling these goals and supporting local governments in the province accordingly.
