Until October 27, the Gòtic district of Barcelona becomes a space of art and creativity with the third edition of Aparadors Artístics, an initiative that seeks to enhance commercial activity and, at the same time, offer artistic interventions outside the conventional circuits. On this occasion, 35 stores of the commercial axis Barna Centre join the project, showing in their windows artistic proposals ranging from visual arts to literature, through painting, sculpture and performing arts.
A fusion between commerce and art
Aparadors Artístics is a project organized by Barna Centre, the federation of traders in the Gothic Quarter, in collaboration with the cultural publication Hansel and Gretel** and the Barcelona City Council. Its objective is clear: to revitalize the commercial fabric of the city center and bring art to the citizens in an accessible and surprising way. This year, the project has grown significantly, from 20 participating stores in 2023 to 35 this year, expanding the area of artistic intervention. Participating stores not only become cultural scenarios, but also manage to invigorate their commercial activity by attracting passersby with works by prestigious artists.
A project promoted by the City Council and the commercial sector
This year’s edition has the support of the Ciutat Vella district and the Economic Promotion Department, within the framework of the Cultural Regatta, a series of cultural activities held to coincide with the America’s Cup in Barcelona. This collaboration reinforces the link between art, culture and commerce, highlighting the role of shop windows as a space for dialogue between commerce and culture. According to the mayor and Ciutat Vella councilor, Albert Batlle, the intention of this project is to enrich the urban environment and demonstrate that stores are not only places for shopping, but also meeting points and exchange of ideas. This vision reinforces the importance of stores as cultural spaces that go beyond their commercial function.
A showcase for artists outside the conventional circuits
The Aparadors Artístics initiative not only seeks to invigorate commerce in the Gòtic, but also to offer prestigious artists a different platform, outside of traditional exhibition spaces. By filling the shop windows with art, a new type of interaction is generated between the citizen and the work, fostering an unexpected and close dialogue. This fusion between art and commerce helps to raise awareness of the potential of the Barri Gòtic as a center not only for commerce, but also for art and culture. This type of initiative underlines the value that art can bring to urban spaces, turning shopping streets into veritable open-air art galleries, where creativity flows freely and integrates with everyday life.
Financing and institutional support
The project is financed thanks to the collection of the Impost d’Estades en Establiments Turístics (IEET), which has allowed the organization of activities like this one, which reinforce the cultural and economic dynamism of the city. In addition, the participation of the Barcelona City Council, through its different areas and the Ciutat Vella district, demonstrates the city’s commitment to the promotion of art and support for local commerce.
The Barri Gòtic: a commercial and artistic hub
The third edition of Aparadors Artístics consolidates the Barri Gòtic as a key place for the encounter between commerce and culture. Store windows are transformed into exhibition spaces, offering the public a unique experience that combines art with everyday life. This type of initiative not only benefits local commerce, but also reinforces Barcelona’s role as a city where culture and creativity are protagonists.
