The partners of Ateneu Barcelona They have finally been able to find out first-hand about what is happening within the historical cultural association at an informative meeting convened last Thursday. The works in the historic building on Calle de Canuda number 6 and the events planned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of its construction were on the agenda, but they have not been addressed at this meeting where two issues have predominated, the deficit of more than 200,000 euros from the institution and the tense situation between the Board of Directors chaired by Isona Passola and the Escola d’Escriptura. On Friday, both parties have scheduled a meeting.
“Although there has sometimes been tension and harshness, each one has been able to explain their version. It has become clear that there must be more dialogue between the two because the school is an incalculable asset,” one of the partners pointed out at the exit. “It has become clear that the Escola and the Ateneu are too far apart. The tone has been tense but I see a desire for dialogue,” highlighted a woman. “It saddens me that there is this clash between two pillars of the Ateneu,” said a member when leaving.
“There was a certain smell of mothballs, you can tell there is entrenched problems. And I haven’t fully understood the dismissal of the director of the Library, it wasn’t very clear. The manager has seemed arrogant to me”, explained one of the first to leave the meeting. “I hope that this will be fixed soon because the situation is unfortunate. What is happening calls the Ateneu into question,” added a veteran who had not attended because she is waiting for a general assembly to be called.
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This September the partners have found out through social networks and the press about the latest events: the unexpected dismissal of the director of the Library -which will take the entity to trial- and which led to the resignation of two members of the Board of Directors; and the confrontation with the Escola d’Escriptura, a company that until now has been self-managed and has no financial problems. Of course, the membership fees paid by their students have decreased considerably since virtual classes – launched as a result of the pandemic – have become a viable option to study at a distance.
For Passola It is essential that the Escola, “which occupies 400 square meters and doesn’t even pay for electricity”, helps compensate for this year’s deficit in which “energy costs have risen to 120,000 euros, generating an unforeseen deficit”, he explained to THE NEWSPAPER. Pau Pérez, co-director of the Escola together with Lluis Martí López, made his position clear at the meeting: you cannot make someone who does not come to the building pay a membership fee. Since there was no time to discuss other issues, the Board has decided to organize other meetings to discuss the 150th anniversary events and the works on the building.