Olot is willing to become a partner of a Culture Programme project

Olot. Introduction form for Culture Programme

OLOT Olot is located in the north of (north east of ), less than an hour away from the French border and just one hour and a half away from . It is the capital of La Garrotxa County, with a surface of 29 sq km and a population of 33.500. About 50% of Olot’s active population is engaged in the service sector, and around 40% works in industry. The whole municipal district is located within the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, an area well-known for its volcanoes and for its flora and fauna. (Link)

In the cultural field, Olot has different facilities – Teatre Principal (theatre), El Torín (concert venue), Museu de la Garrotxa, Museu dels Sants and Museu dels Volcans (museums), Biblioteca Marià Vayreda (library) – which offer a wide range of cultural activities.

LANDSCAPE AS A CITY STRATEGY Olot has always been closely linked to the landscape that surrounds it. In fact, the landscape has been a source of inspiration for many artists, and the Olot Landscape School created in the second half of the 19th century, is especially remarkable.

Olot hosts the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia (http://www.catpaisatge.net/eng/index.php) and the Olot Art College (http://www.escolartolot.cat/en.html). Besides, there are plans to create the Landscape Museum of Catalonia (http://www.museudelpaisatge.cat), and every year, around the International Dance Day, the city holds a festival that links dance to landscape. Indeed, landscape is one of the driving forces of the city in all senses (finances, art, society, etc.) and it has become a core element in Olot’s line of work and positioning.

COLLABORATION WITH EUROPEAN PARTNERS Olot’s town council is keen on collaborating as partners in a Culture Programme 2007 project in which the main lines of work are the landscape and the territory, and the cultural supply and demand that is developed around them.

Olot is also willing to become involved in other types of cultural projects, either in the frame of the 2007-2013 Culture Programme or in other European programmes. The wide ranges of cultural activities to be found in Olot, as well as a rich associative network, have turned the municipality into a middle- sized city with an outstanding cultural life. Performing arts, music and visual arts play a leading role in the city; therefore, Olot may also become a partner of projects related to these areas.

Contact Ricard Sargatal Institut de Cultura de la Ciutat d’Olot C/ Sant Esteve, 29. 17800 – Olot www.olotcultura.cat [email protected] +34 972 27 27 77