"Persianes que fan barri"

Persianes que fan barri —“shutters that build community”— highlights local commerce and local creative talent through artistic interventions on shop shutters. The initiative turns public space into a living reflection of the community.

Local commerce is a key sector in Barcelona, with 61,875 active retail establishments, generating more than 152,000 jobs and contributing 13.29% to the city’s GDP.

It has distinctive strengths such as proximity, personalised service, knowledge of the community and deep roots in the local area — values that generate trust and contribute to the identity and cohesion of neighbourhoods. However, it also faces significant challenges arising from changing consumer habits, increasing competition from major platforms and retail chains, as well as the difficulties of adapting to digital environments and new ways of engaging with customers.

At the same time, design and creativity have become strategic tools for innovation in local commerce, as they make it possible to rethink spaces, services and forms of communication adapted to new consumer habits. This approach not only helps businesses stand out and improves the customer experience, but also contributes to creating a more dynamic, cohesive and attractive commercial fabric for the city.

This is the context for Persianes que fan barri, a project that proposes a large-scale creative intervention on the shutters of local retail establishments across the city.

The initiative spans Barcelona’s 10 districts and involves 11 creatives, 15 retail associations and commercial districts, and 185 neighbourhood shops. It is a project that connects creativity, public space and the local economy, using urban art as a catalyst for urban improvement and social cohesion.

The participating retail associations are: Amics de La Rambla, Ass. de Comerciants Gràcia Central, Ass. de Comerciants La Marina, Cor de les Corts, Eix Clot, Eix Comercial Sant Gervasi (Barnavasi), Eix Fabra Virrei, Eix Raval, Eix Sant Andreu, Eix Sants Les Corts, Les Corts Comerç 08028, Mirall de Pedralbes, Som Sant Antoni, Unió de Botiguers del Cor d’Horta and Xarxa de Comerç Divers.

The participating creatives are: A2Zeta (Martí Huguet + Jan Altadill), Axe Colours, Carola Bagnato, Daniel Thomas, Emily Jo Eldridge, Gemma Fontanals, Guillem Font, Irene López, Jalón de Aquiles, Penao and Roc Blackblock.

The project is organised and led by the Barcelona Creativity & Design Foundation, with art direction by Rebobinart and the support of the Department of Commerce, Restaurants and Food of Barcelona City Council, within the framework of the European Capital of Local Commerce.