On June 15, the I International Congress of Theater Spectators was held at the Teatre Romea in Barcelona. The new and pioneering proposal of Àfora Focus, a Focus Group thinking hub, makes spectators their main axis, to whom they intend to give a face and voice, making them protagonists of a Congress that is unique in the world.

The event was presided by Daniel Martínez de Obregón, President of Grup Focus, who emphasized, “this is a congress by and for theater audiences”.

He was joined by Pepe Zapata, International Congress commissary, who highlighted the participation of approximately 50 congress attendants and prominent figures from over 25 different countries.

This new initiative has already been confirmed by both guest attendees from around the world and expert speakers on the subject such as: Antonella Broglia from Italy; Zavel Castro from Mexico; Katya Johanson from Australia; Roger Bernat and Antonio Monegal from Catalonia, among others.

In its first edition, the Congress will address themes relating to diversity, participation and transversality of performing arts audiences in a variety formats (conferences, workshops, plenary sessions, visits, artistic actions, etc.) that will take place throughout the three days, and the Congress will culminate with the creation and reading of the Barcelona Manifesto of Theater Spectators.

The Congress is directed to theater audiences (association representatives, performing arts lovers, project managers), creators and artists interested in getting to know and reinforcing the viewers’ motivations, public administrations (responsible cultural policies), cultural managers, researchers and expert consultants in audience analysis.

It will take place, in-person, at the Teatro Romea and can be streamed via the online immersive platform created especially by the Congress.