There are stone monuments that, every now and then, decide to cast off their moorings and come alive with color and talent. That’s exactly what will happen from November 6 to 8 at Cardona Castle, which will offer free admission to host “Ofici,” the new Traditional Crafts Fair organized by the Generalitat.
The event was created with the aim of celebrating and raising awareness of time-honored crafts, placing them in a contemporary context. To achieve this, the walls of this historic fortress will host more than eighty national and international artisans, giving the public a glimpse into the meticulous work behind each creation.
The art of creating with one’s hands
A stroll through the castle will also be a journey through all kinds of disciplines and products: from jewelry and ceramics to glasswork and the textile arts. Among the established creators confirmed to showcase their work are names such as Brucart Joies, Carles Casas, Morgana Àvila, Valeria Rossini, Xavier Mas, and Siyu Liu, among many others.
The fair complements its exhibition space with various talks and discussions to reflect on the role of craftsmanship today. The official opening will take place on Friday, November 6, a day that will culminate at 6:00 p.m. with the awards ceremony. On Saturday, November 7, at 12:00 p.m., the discussion will take center stage with the roundtable (in Spanish) “The Role of Traditional Crafts in Contemporary Society,” featuring Tomás Alía, Pepa Entrena, and Laura Miguel, moderated by David Places.
That same Saturday afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., the Association for the Study of Furniture (AEM) will present an intriguing case study on an 18th-century prie-dieu that, according to the organizers, hides far more secrets than meets the eye. To attend this specific activity, prior online registration is required.
As for the event’s general hours, the gates will be open continuously from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the fair’s final day, hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
An excuse to discover Cardona salt
The fair offers benefits for those looking to round out their visit to the town. From November 4 through 8, visitors can enjoy a special discount to explore the Salt Mountain; simply enter the promotional code “OFICI” when making a reservation through the Cardona Turisme website.
At the same time, the Salt Museum is also joining the initiative and will offer a special reduced rate for all fair attendees from November 6 through 9, available during continuous hours from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
