01.19 Escola Massana

Escola Massana, founded in 1929, is one of Barcelona’s most emblematic institutions for visual arts, applied arts, and design. It was established thanks to a donation from Agustí Massana, who provided a substantial sum of money to the City Council with the aim of creating a free school dedicated to the artistic education of young people with limited resources. During its early years, the school became a leading centre for artistic crafts such as ceramics, jewellery making, engraving, and illustration. Throughout the twentieth century, Escola Massana evolved by incorporating new disciplines and adapting to contemporary approaches in design and visual arts.

Today, it is a municipal institution, and its university-level programmes are affiliated with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Escola Massana continues to be a highly prestigious creative centre, recognized for its commitment to innovation, interdisciplinarity, and high-quality artistic education.