Barcelona will see the opening of a new branch of the city's history museum, the Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA), at the Fabra i Coats complex in the Sant Andreu district on 7 May. This new centre will be dedicated to the history of labour, according to Barcelona City Council.
The presentation of the new facility, located at Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20, is scheduled for 10am. Xavier Marcé, the city councillor for Culture and Creative Industries, will lead the event alongside Carles García Hermosilla, the director of MUHBA.
Preserving Industrial Heritage
The Fabra i Coats factory, a significant landmark in Sant Andreu, has a long industrial past. It was once a prominent textile mill, playing a key role in Barcelona's industrial development. The decision to house the labour history museum here connects the institution directly to its subject matter, offering a tangible link to the city's working-class history.
This initiative reflects a broader effort to revitalise former industrial sites and repurpose them for cultural and community use. The Fabra i Coats complex already hosts various cultural projects and public services, making it a natural fit for a museum dedicated to the area's industrial heritage.
Future of the Museum
The new MUHBA branch will expand the museum's reach beyond its main Plaça del Rei location, which focuses on ancient and medieval Barcelona. By establishing a dedicated space for labour history, the museum aims to offer a more complete narrative of the city's social and economic evolution, particularly through the lens of its industrial past and the lives of its workers. This expansion will allow for more focused exhibitions and educational programmes, exploring themes such as factory life, trade unions, and technological changes in the workplace.
