In the heart of Barcelona, the Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) is much more than an icon of modernist architecture. This century-old facility, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, has also become an example of how a cultural institution can promote social change based on a firm commitment to culture and people.
Since its establishment in 1905, the project has been guided by the values of participation, Catalan identity and social commitment. Today, these principles take shape in various initiatives that seek to bring culture closer to everyone, promote community cohesion and minimise environmental impact. The Fundació Orfeó Català-Palau de la Música Catalana promotes exemplary work that combines artistic excellence with social and environmental responsibility.
Music that transforms lives
One of the Palau de la Música's most important initiatives is Palau Vincles, its most symbolic social project. Created in 2011 with the support of the Escola Coral del Orfeó Català, it aims to promote inclusion through choral singing among children and young people in vulnerable situations. Currently, more than 600 participants are part of the active choirs that meet every week, and about a thousand participate through collaborations with guest choirs.
The highlight of the course is the Palau Vincles Fest, a concert open to families that showcases the results of months of hard work. This year's edition stood out for its premiere of the piece Mou el món, created by Judit and Meritxell Neddermann, and for the premiere of the winning songs of the project's composition contest, now in its fourth edition. With these proposals, the Palau demonstrates that music is a powerful tool to promote self-esteem, coexistence and emotional expression.
A Palau for everyone
Social inclusion is also present through the Apropa Cultura programme, which connects cultural facilities with groups at risk of exclusion. During the last season, the Palau de la Música welcomed more than 1,400 people through concerts and guided tours as part of this programme. This is another step towards the democratisation of culture to guarantee the right of everyone to enjoy and participate in it.
Environmentally conscious culture
The Palau de la Música Catalana integrates sustainability as a core principle of its management. In June 2025, it set up a new installation of solar panels that will generate more than 43,000 kWh of sustainable energy per year, covering part of its electricity consumption with its own resources. The remaining 93% comes from renewable sources through the green energy contract.
This environmental commitment is part of a responsible management that takes into account economic, social, labour and good governance sustainability, ensuring a balance with all stakeholders involved in the project.
A model for the future
The Palau de la Música Catalana is now a model to follow in the cultural sector. With an artistic programme that focuses on excellence, innovation and local talent, and with high-impact social and environmental initiatives, the institution reaffirms its commitment to improving people's lives. A space where music is not only listened to; it is lived, shared and transforms the reality that surrounds us.
