Òmnium Cultural
Encyclopedia
Òmnium Cultural (ˈɔmnium kuɫtuˈɾaɫ) is a cultural association based in Barcelona
(Catalonia
, Spain
). It was originally created to promote the Catalan language
and spread Catalan culture.
Despite remaining officially a civil society organisation, it is heavily funded by the Catalan regional government
.
Since democracy returned to Spain in the 1970s the association has gradually acquired more political stances. Over the years it has become more openly separatist by sponsoring or joining petition
s related to Catalan nationalism
advocating for a national identity of Catalonia as a distinct nation.
Its motto is Llengua, cultura, país ("Language, culture, country", in Catalan)
before the Francoist courts, the association won its right to exist and was once again authorized.
In order to promote the Catalan culture within the many limits of Francoism, Òmnium was the main sponsor of creating various award
s and literary contests
for works published in Catalan, such as the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (1969). Then by the early 1970s it established the`Nit de Santa Llúcia a festival of Catalan literature
when three different awards are granted, Premi Sant Jordi (novel
), Premi Mercè Rodoreda
(short story
) and the Premi Carles Riba (poetry).
After the end of the Francoist dictatorship in 1975, Òmnium continued its work, which became, then, unrestrained. Still, the subsequent legalization of all the political parties (including Catalan separatist ones) deprived Òmnium of some of its former pervasiveness in things Catalan. Once democracy was restored, Òmnium started moving towards more straightforward Catalan nationalist positions, sponsoring campaigns such as lobbying
the government to have all the products sold in Catalonia labelled in Catalan.
Òmnium Cultural works with other organizations that share similar goals in other Catalan-speaking territories
: Acció Cultural del País Valencià (in the Valencian Community
) and Obra Cultural Balear (in the Balearic Islands
).
Its main source of funding is the public money granted by the Catalan regional government
or Generalitat de Catalunya. In the 2004-2010 period it was granted a grand total of 8.952.942 million euros of these funds.
As of 2009, there has been debate in the Catalan parliament
about the high amount of the funds received compared to other cultural entities and certain irregularities about its origin . The debate has been centered about the neutrality of the Catalan Government towards the organization, since the foundation is actively promoting certain political viewpoints -namely Catalan independentism
- which are held by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
, one of the political parties
in the Catalan regional government
.
It was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi
by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). It was originally created to promote the Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
and spread Catalan culture.
Despite remaining officially a civil society organisation, it is heavily funded by the Catalan regional government
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
.
Since democracy returned to Spain in the 1970s the association has gradually acquired more political stances. Over the years it has become more openly separatist by sponsoring or joining petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
s related to Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
advocating for a national identity of Catalonia as a distinct nation.
Its motto is Llengua, cultura, país ("Language, culture, country", in Catalan)
History
Òmnium Cultural was created on 11 July 1961 in the context of Francoist Spain when the institutional use of Catalan was forbidden. In 1963 the Francoist authorities closed down the association. Òmnium had to continue to exist as a clandestine association in the 1963-1967 period. In 1967, after a long legal caseLegal case
A legal case is a dispute between opposing parties resolved by a court, or by some equivalent legal process. A legal case may be either civil or criminal...
before the Francoist courts, the association won its right to exist and was once again authorized.
In order to promote the Catalan culture within the many limits of Francoism, Òmnium was the main sponsor of creating various award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s and literary contests
Literary award
A literary award is an award presented to an author who has written a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing . There are also awards...
for works published in Catalan, such as the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (1969). Then by the early 1970s it established the`Nit de Santa Llúcia a festival of Catalan literature
Catalan literature
Catalan literature is the name conventionally used to refer to literature written in the Catalan language. The Catalan literary tradition is extensive, starting in the Middle Ages....
when three different awards are granted, Premi Sant Jordi (novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
), Premi Mercè Rodoreda
Mercè Rodoreda
Mercè Rodoreda i Gurguí was a Spanish Catalan novelist in the Catalan language.She is considered by many to be the most important Catalan novelist of the postwar period...
(short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
) and the Premi Carles Riba (poetry).
After the end of the Francoist dictatorship in 1975, Òmnium continued its work, which became, then, unrestrained. Still, the subsequent legalization of all the political parties (including Catalan separatist ones) deprived Òmnium of some of its former pervasiveness in things Catalan. Once democracy was restored, Òmnium started moving towards more straightforward Catalan nationalist positions, sponsoring campaigns such as lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
the government to have all the products sold in Catalonia labelled in Catalan.
Structure and Funding
The association claims to have some 20,000 members and 26 regional offices besides the headquarters in Barcelona. It is headed by Jordi Porta i Ribalta.Òmnium Cultural works with other organizations that share similar goals in other Catalan-speaking territories
Catalan Countries
The Catalan term Països Catalans refers to the territories where the Catalan language is spoken.The first mentions of the term date back to the late 19th century, but it never surpassed the limits of a small circle of Catalan authors until its strictly cultural dimension became increasingly...
: Acció Cultural del País Valencià (in the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
) and Obra Cultural Balear (in the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
).
Its main source of funding is the public money granted by the Catalan regional government
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
or Generalitat de Catalunya. In the 2004-2010 period it was granted a grand total of 8.952.942 million euros of these funds.
As of 2009, there has been debate in the Catalan parliament
Parliament of Catalonia
The Parliament of Catalonia is the unicameral legislature of Catalonia. It is formed by 135 members , who are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of Catalonia, by universal suffrage in proportional lists with four...
about the high amount of the funds received compared to other cultural entities and certain irregularities about its origin . The debate has been centered about the neutrality of the Catalan Government towards the organization, since the foundation is actively promoting certain political viewpoints -namely Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism is a political movement, derived from Catalan nationalism, which supports the independence of Catalonia or the so-called Catalan countries from Spain and France...
- which are held by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
The Republican Left of Catalonia is a left wing Catalan independentist political party in Spain. It is also the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known among Catalan nationalists as Països Catalans...
, one of the political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in the Catalan regional government
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
.
It was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi
Creu de Sant Jordi
The Creu de Sant Jordi is the highest civil distinction awarded in Catalonia . It was established by the Generalitat de Catalunya autonomous government by virtue of the Decret 457/1981 de 18 de desembre in 1981.. The medal was designed by goldsmith Joaquim Capdevila.-Recipients:*List of...
by the Generalitat de Catalunya.