Girona is set to host a new contemporary thought festival, named TRAMA, which aims to explore pressing issues affecting society and shaping the future. The festival will be directed by Josep Maria Fonalleras and coordinated by Abel Capdevila, with the goal of equipping attendees with critical tools to navigate contemporary challenges.
Supported by local organisations such as Arcàdia, Llibreria 22, Centre Cultural La Mercè, and Abacus, the festival has also received backing from the Girona City Council and the Girona Provincial Council. It will take place annually, engaging local cultural agents.
The festival was presented by Quim Ayats Bartrina, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture; Gemma Geis, Second Vice-President of the Girona Provincial Council; and festival director Josep Maria Fonalleras. Ayats Bartrina remarked, "TRAMA is a significant addition to Girona's cultural landscape, fostering spaces for dialogue that enhance our understanding of the world and empower us to develop our own critical perspectives."
Geis highlighted the festival's commitment to inclusivity, stating, "We value that this festival combines open participation for all citizens with a specific focus on educational institutions. Activities planned for fourth-year ESO and first-year baccalaureate students will bring young people into discussions on topics that directly impact their present and future realities."
The festival will kick off with a preliminary session on 3 December at the Centre Cultural La Mercè, followed by a full edition in autumn 2027, featuring three days of debates. The opening day, titled "What does it mean to think critically?", aims to stimulate discussions on the conditions necessary for developing independent thought, rooted in diverse perspectives and factual understanding of reality.
The event will begin at 11:00 am in the Auditorium of La Mercè with a conversation between writer and journalist Pol Estrada and philosopher Marina Garcés, moderated by Abel Capdevila. This session, aimed at educational institutions, has already confirmed 162 students from Instituto Ermessenda and Instituto Santiago Sobrequés.
At 7:00 pm, there will be an open debate for the general public, featuring Marina Garcés, Elvira Prado-Fabregat, Genís Roca, and Neus Tomàs, moderated by Josep M. Fonalleras. Admission is free but requires prior registration due to limited capacity.
The complete inaugural edition in autumn 2027 will focus on "The Age of Anxiety", addressing the transformations that have led society into a cultural climate marked by uncertainty and the collective experience of anxiety. TRAMA aims to attract a broad, intergenerational audience, combining accessibility with intellectual rigor, and seeks to engage young people, university students, and those who do not typically participate in Girona's cultural life.
The festival will feature discussions organised around conversations between guests from diverse disciplines and viewpoints. The secondary school programme will be developed in direct collaboration with educational institutions, including sessions for students, a pedagogical dossier for classroom use, and a support programme for research projects. Events will be available for viewing on the festival's website, which will also maintain an archive of each edition, complete with content and recommended reading materials.
