Over 800 youth leaders, directors, and former members of Esplais Catalans (Esplac) gathered in Manresa this weekend for Monifesta't, their general meeting. The event, held from Friday to Sunday, aimed to champion the role of 'esplais' as centres for popular education, social transformation, and community cohesion, particularly in response to rising reactionary discourse and individualism, according to organisers.
The Bages capital hosted around 20 activities focused on training, popular culture, political reflection, and community living. The programme mixed critical debate with recreational and musical events, all designed to review the historical legacy of 'esplais' and reinforce their societal role.
Weekend Activities and Discussions
Monifesta't started on Friday with participants arriving for a communal dinner, which served as an initial gathering point. The opening day also featured a performance by the Bages-based Glosa Picapoll Group, involving monitors in improvisations and rhymes.
Saturday saw the majority of activities. Pere III promenade hosted a Fair of Entities in the morning, with 20 initiatives from the associative, educational, and social sectors taking part. This was followed by a presentation titled 'Critical Esplais: consciousness or inertia?', delivered by Pere Soler Masó from the Paulo Freire Nucleus at the University of Girona.
Soler Masó's talk presented pedagogy as a tool for social transformation and a political act capable of questioning reality. The discussion on the educational role of 'esplais' and their social function was a central theme of this year's meeting.
Workshops and Cultural Events
After lunch, participants attended 30 simultaneous workshops led by groups and organisations involved in leisure education. These sessions covered various topics, including pedagogy, participation, inclusion, feminisms, and emotional management.
Rain forced the postponement of a planned Saturday evening unitary event, but other activities continued. A street parade through central Manresa, led by the Buidant la Bota brass band, took place, concluding with a concert by the group Fades and a music session featuring current and former Esplac monitors.
Sunday morning began with a participatory exercise centred on a fictional scenario: the disappearance of 'Esplai La Xiruca'. This activity prompted participants to consider the current challenges faced by 'esplais' and potential strategies to ensure their continuity.
Advocating for Educational Leisure
A key moment of the meeting was Sunday's unitary event, where representatives from various 'esplais', commissions, and management teams read the Monifesta't manifesto. The document championed the work of educational leisure and the role of 'esplais' as spaces for socialisation, cohesion, and critical education.
The manifesto also highlighted the current social context, characterised by an increase in hate speech, individualism, and militarisation. Esplac argued for the need to build community spaces away from market-driven dynamics and accelerated consumption. The Bages collective Boicot ICL also participated, invited by the organisers.
The final day continued with an aperitif featuring monologues by @indicatiu, ending with a communal lunch before farewells.
Esplac believes Monifesta't has strengthened the role of 'esplais' as educational and social agents rooted in the country's neighbourhoods, towns, and cities. The organisation recognises the voluntary work of thousands of monitors who regularly carry out educational and community activities. This edition in Manresa aimed to solidify Monifesta't as a space for collective reflection on the present and future of popular education, and as a meeting point for different generations involved in the Catalan 'esplais' movement.
