Badalona Museum is hosting A New Future, A New Hope from 21 May to 26 September, as part of the exhibition The First Steps Towards Democracy (1976-1978). The project is part of a wider collective programme across Catalonia, with 23 other local museums taking part until the end of the year, according to the Diputació de Barcelona.
Developed with the Democratic Memorial, the exhibition is the sixth project in the Memory in Network series. It focuses on democratic memory in local museums and, in Badalona, looks at the city’s social and political activity during the democratic transition between 1976 and 1978.
Badalona’s socio-economic and demographic situation is presented as a useful case for understanding that period of change, when the first steps towards democracy were taken after years of dictatorship. The exhibition is free to enter.
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The programme also includes conferences and a round table discussion. It began with the opening on 21 May at 7pm. Upcoming talks include The Catalan Rupture: The Elections of 15 June 1977 by Andreu Mayayo on 28 May at 7pm, and Tarradellas, Return and Unity by Joan Esculies on 4 June at 7pm.
On 11 June at 7pm, there will be a round table titled The Transition in Badalona, moderated by museum director Joan Francès. Sara Díaz Costas will present The First Steps of Feminism after the Long Dictatorship on 18 June at 7pm.
The wider exhibition, organised by the Diputació de Barcelona, focuses on the recovery of self-governance and the start of cultural normalisation after Franco’s death. It is being shown in 24 venues within the Network of Local Museums until December, with museums joining progressively. More information is available from the Diputació de Barcelona and the Memorial Democràtic.
