Federation of Ateneus of Catalonia

The Federació d'Ateneus de Catalunya (FAC) is a Catalan cultural association created in 1983 following the Third Congress of Ateneus, held at the Centre de Lectura in Reus and convened by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Its purpose is to strengthen, facilitate and improve the work of sociocultural entities throughout Catalonia, act as a bridge between these entities and public administrations, and programme training and recreational activities that reinforce networking among member associations. Its headquarters are at Plaça Víctor Balaguer in Barcelona, and it federates 174 associations. Since May 2019 its president has been Pep Morella Murcia, from the Societat Coral Obrera la Glòria Sentmenatenca (SCOLGS). The federation's origins lie in early twentieth-century efforts to unite the diverse ateneus. In 1911 the Centre de Lectura de Reus organised the First Regional Congress of Ateneus and Cultural Associations, followed by a Second Congress in Vilanova i la Geltrú in 1912; disagreements among participants ended that first period of cohesion attempts. Organisational will resumed in 1983 with the Third Congress of Ateneus, again at the Centre de Lectura de Reus, driven by the newly restored Generalitat de Catalunya. The Federation was registered in the Register of Associations in 1984. It has received the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2014 and the National Culture Prize in 2010. Today the FAC operates the Xarxa de Teatres d'Ateneus de Catalunya (XTAC), a network of ateneu theatres. Through XTAC the Federation co-produces an annual theatrical production designed to tour member ateneus. For 2026 the chosen production is "L'ARQUITECTE PROHIBIT" by the company La Tremenda, inspired by Antoni Gaudí to commemorate the centenary of his death; it will tour XTAC ateneus from February to November 2026, with a premiere on 31 January at the Ateneu Unió de la Colònia Güell. The 2026 XTAC programme presents 15 different shows and a total of 148 performances across the country. The Federation also publishes a catalogue of activities through which non-XTAC entities can book shows.

The Federació d'Ateneus de Catalunya (FAC) was created in 1983 after the Third Congress of Ateneus, held at the Centre de Lectura in Reus and convened by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Its aim was to strengthen, facilitate and improve the work of sociocultural entities throughout Catalonia, serve as a bridge between these entities and public administrations, and programme training and recreational activities to reinforce networking among member cultural associations. It was registered in the Register of Associations in 1984. Its headquarters are at Plaça Víctor Balaguer in Barcelona, and it federates 174 associations. Since May 2019 its president has been Pep Morella Murcia, from the Societat Coral Obrera la Glòria Sentmenatenca (SCOLGS). The push for cohesion among Catalonia's diverse ateneus dates to the early twentieth century. In 1911 the Centre de Lectura de Reus organised the First Regional Congress of Ateneus and Cultural Associations, and a Second Congress of Ateneus and Cultural Associations followed in Vilanova i la Geltrú in 1912. However, sharp disagreements among attending ateneus led to confrontation and closed that first period of attempted unity. It was not until 1983, with the restoration of institutions such as the Generalitat de Catalunya as the main driving force, that the organisational will resumed through the Third Congress of Ateneus, again at the Centre de Lectura de Reus. The Federation has received the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2014 and the National Culture Prize in 2010. In the present day, the FAC operates the Xarxa de Teatres d'Ateneus de Catalunya (XTAC), a network of ateneu theatres. Each year the Federation, through XTAC, co-produces a show conceived specifically to be performed at the different ateneus of the network. For 2026 the selected production is "L'ARQUITECTE PROHIBIT" by the company La Tremenda, inspired by Antoni Gaudí to mark the centenary of his death; it will tour XTAC ateneus from February to November 2026, with a premiere on 31 January at the theatre of the Ateneu Unió de la Colònia Güell, an event including a talk on 'Gaudí i l'escudellòmetro modernista' and a tasting of escudella by chef Maria Nicolau. The 2026 XTAC programme presents 15 different shows and a total of 148 performances across the country. Non-XTAC ateneus can also book the show through the Federation's activity catalogue.

• 2026

  XTAC 2026 programme presents 15 shows and 148 performances; FAC co-production L'ARQUITECTE PROHIBIT premieres on 31 January

• 2019

  Pep Morella Murcia becomes president in May

• 2014

  Awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi

• 2010

  Awarded the National Culture Prize

• 1984

  Federation registered in the Register of Associations

• 1983

  Third Congress of Ateneus at the Centre de Lectura de Reus; the Federació d'Ateneus de Catalunya is created

• 1912

  Second Congress of Ateneus and Cultural Associations held in Vilanova i la Geltrú; disagreements ended the first period of cohesion attempts

• 1911

  First Regional Congress of Ateneus and Cultural Associations, organised by the Centre de Lectura de Reus

A non-profit cultural federation and networking body for Catalan ateneus, acting as an intermediary with public administrations and a promoter of shared cultural programming.

• XTAC – Xarxa de Teatres d'Ateneus de Catalunya

  A network of ateneu theatres through which the Federation programmes and co-produces shows.

• Annual FAC co-production

  A show conceived each year to tour the ateneus of the XTAC network; the 2026 production is L'ARQUITECTE PROHIBIT by La Tremenda.

• Activity catalogue

  A catalogue through which entities, including non-XTAC ateneus, can book shows and activities.

1. 1XTAC – Xarxa de Teatres d'Ateneusxtac.ateneus.cat
2. 2Vine a gaudir de l'estrena de la producció FAC 2026 sobre la figura de Gaudí: L'ARQUITECTE PROHIBIT – XTACxtac.ateneus.cat
3. 3Federació d'Ateneus de Catalunya – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Federació d'Ateneus de Catalunya – Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org