International Houses
Since 1911, Casa Amèrica Catalunya has been strengthening links between Catalonia and Latin America. Advocating that culture is one of the backbones that unites us across borders, the wide and diverse programme offered by the Casa Amèrica Catalunya includes seminars, conferences, expositions, concerts and cinema series, among other activities. Literature also plays an important part in this range of activities, in the form of roundtable discussions, book presentations, and talks, all focused on Latin American literature.
Since 2001 Casa Asia has advised on the implementation of positioning strategies in Asia, participates in EU programs towards Asia, and disseminates its cultural diversity with exhibitions, book launches, festivals and film series. Casa Asia also trains in Asian languages and disciplines for the school and youth population, with special attention to promoting values such as cooperation, solidarity and non-discrimination. It also promotes joint activities with the Asian communities living in our country in initiatives that promote interculturality and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, and organizes bilateral forums with Asian countries.
Casa Asia is the main Spanish institution for public diplomacy with Asia and the Pacific, and it promotes knowledge and relations with that region through its projects in the educational, social, economic and cultural fields. It was created in 2001 with a Consortium made up of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Barcelona and Madrid City Councils.
Institut Français de Barcelona
The Institut Français of Barcelona is the main French language teaching institute in the city. Operating since 1919, the Institut Français is a meeting point for French, Catalan and Spanish cultures. The organization of expositions, talks, concerts, and film and theatre sessions provides the opportunity for cultural exchange. Users of the media library at the Institut Français have access to the online portal of media libraries of the Institut Français in Spain Culturethèque, offering thousands of resources which may be consulted online such as digital books, comics, magazines, and French press.
The British Council is an international organization aimed at promoting understanding and knowledge between the United Kingdom and other countries through the teaching of the English language and culture. In 1943, the British Council opened its first headquarters on Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, and currently operates from it centre on Carrer Amigó. Cultural and creative diversity in the United Kingdom is promoted through the British Council Spain project, and more specifically, the British Council’s international literature webpage covers all the information related to the British literature.
Institute of North American Studies
Founded in 1951, the Institute of North American Studies is one of the many English language study centre in Barcelona, but above all it is a place which promotes the cultural exchange between Catalonia and the United States of America through a regular programme featuring seminars, conferences, audio-visual projections, exposition, and musical performances. Jazz, literature, film, theatre, and classic music form part of the agenda of cultural activities organized at the centre.
The Goethe-Institut is an institution aimed at promoting the German language and culture abroad. As well as offering German courses of all levels and giving the possibility of doing all the official exams in this language, the Goethe-Institut in Barcelona places special emphasis on promoting German culture and literature. The “German contemporary literature in Spanish” projects provides a wide range of information about German authors with work translated into Spanish, and about the world of German books in general. In Barcelona, the Goethe-Institut headquarters is located on Carrer Roger de Flor where as well as teaching the language, there are series of cinema, concerts, and exhibitions organized.
Instituto Italiano di Cultura Barcellona
The Italian Institute of Culture in Barcelona is an institution from the Ministero d'Esteriori charged of the promotion of the Italian language and culture in the world. Founded in 1950, the Italian Institute offers different levels of language courses throughout the year and is also the official place to do certification exams. In collaboration with other local entities, it organises exhibitions, concerts, recitals, conferences, film cycles and cultural events related to Italy.
Centre of Russian Language and Culture A. Pushkin
Operating since 1992, Centre of Russian Language and Culture A. Pushkin promotes cultural and language exchange between Russia and the Spanish State. The centre offers both Russian classes —for natives living in Barcelona and for Barcelona residents— as well as Spanish classes for Russian residents in Barcelona. The teaching of Russian and Spanish is understood as a vehicle for cultural and professional exchange that opens up multiple opportunities both in work and in personal enrichment. Russian language and literature classes are also given for children, and the centre has its own library with teaching material and Russian filmography.
Institut Camões - Centro de Língua Portuguesa
Since 2001, the Camões Portuguese Language Centre in Barcelona has been dedicated to promoting the Portuguese language and culture in the city. The centre is located next to the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Bellaterra. Thanks to an agreement signed between the Camões Institute and the UAB in 2007, the Saramago Chair was created. The objective of this Chair is to promote research projects, conferences, talks and publications aimed at fostering the Portuguese language and literature, translation and interpreting, and the relationships between Portugal and Catalonia.
Nordic countries languages since 1981. Studying Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and Icelandic is a good way to access jobs in Scandinavian countries. Many students choose to learn these languages for cultural or personal reasons.
