Every year, the University holds Cultural April, a month-long celebration dedicated exclusively to promoting and disseminating cultural and artistic activities open to the university community. In an effort to nurture culture outside the classroom and throughout the institution’s campuses and grounds, Student Services organised and led a series of initiatives that have been received with great enthusiasm by students as well as teaching, administration and services staff.

Although this April has been impacted by the restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cultural April has still made its mark through a blended format across the University’s on-site and online spaces, respecting all safety measures.

For example, the painting exhibition held on the Sant Cugat Campus, under the heading “What really inspires you?”, has displayed the artworks of twelve students from the University’s Painting Group.

Also to feature were the traditional literary competition and the spring photography competition. More than fifty UIC Barcelona community members were inspired to take part, with overall submissions reaching some sixty photographs.

New this year was an online Debate Tournament held under the relevant heading “In times of pandemic, we should prioritise health over the economy”, which was fought out between members of the Debate Groups from each campus. The final was held in person and streamed online.

Other artistic disciplines, such as theatre and music, were also featured during Cultural April. Students from the Theatre Groups on both campuses prepared monologues that they will record and present at the end of the academic year. What’s more, eleven students of the Sant Cugat Campus choir took the opportunity to prepare and present a version of Queen's single “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Finally, other activities such as the Reading Group overseen and moderated by lecturer Bernat Torres, and the Cultural Getaway to Casa Amatller led by lecturer Judith Urbano, were also highly sought-after activities among the UIC Barcelona community.