The Girona City Council has approved the suspension of works on the Pont de la Barca, which means the definitive closure of the concert hall project planned for that area since 2023. The decision directly affects the city's cultural and musical offer, which is left without an infrastructure that had generated expectations among promoters and the local hospitality sector.
Relocation attempts and lack of spaces
After the suspension, the promoters are looking for alternatives and have set their sights on the Ohkey Foods premises, located on Emili Grahit street. The new project includes a concert hall with capacity for fewer than 500 people, but the difficulties in bringing forward initiatives of this type in Girona persist.
"Here it is impossible to organize anything" - Xavier Garcia, president of the Girona Hospitality Association
Xavier Garcia, manager of the Mimolet restaurant and president of the Girona Hospitality Association, has been especially critical of the current situation. According to Garcia, the city lacks adequate spaces for small-format live music and the lack of political consensus aggravates the problem.
La Mirona and the need for a room of its own
Currently, the only reference concert hall in Girona is La Mirona, located outside the municipality. Garcia believes that the city needs its own space to promote the regular programming of musical events and bring live music closer to the citizens.
"Girona has a concert hall that is not its own, La Mirona, and it would be interesting to create one of its own for the city" - Xavier Garcia, Association d"Hospitality of Girona
The president of the association denounces the clear lack of spaces for small-format musicians, which limits the possibility of organizing concerts and hinders young audiences' access to live music. The situation is further complicated by the lack of agreement among political parties, despite all recognizing the infrastructure deficit.
Proposals and upcoming events
Garcia proposes to seek a formula that allows the creation of a concert hall driven by the City Council or by private initiative, with private management and a public service vocation. The objective is to guarantee a stable program and respond to the demand for small-format events.
"The interesting thing would be that the City Council would look for the space and promote a venue for small-format music and that the management would be private" - Xavier Garcia, Associació d"Hostaleria de Girona
Meanwhile, the next concert organized by Garcia will take place on May 9 at Platea, with the performance of Motörhits, a Mötorhead tribute band that has never played in Girona due to lack of space, and The best of, Miquel Abras's cover project.
The situation in Girona remains under debate, with the hospitality sector demanding solutions and the city awaiting a concert hall that responds to the needs of musicians and the public.