About the event
This event will take the form of a conversation, followed by readings of Damià Bardera's work, both in English and Catalan. This event is sponsored by the Institut Ramon Llull and the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
This event will be held in English, with readings of the same texts in Catalan and English too.
About the speaker
Damià Bardera is a Catalan writer, essayist, and secondary school teacher. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Girona, where his doctoral thesis examined the narrative works of the philosopher Josep Ferrater Mora.
Bardera debuted in literature by winning the Marià Manent Poetry Prize in 2008 (or 2007 in some accounts) for his poetry collection El penúltim vòmit (Viena Edicions, 2008). Since then, he has authored over fifteen books, encompassing poetry, short story collections, novels (such as Viladelsac, 2015), and essays. He is one of the most singular voices of contemporary Catalan literature. Several of his short stories have been translated into Dutch, Polish, English and Croatian.
In parallel to his literary career, Bardera has worked as a secondary education teacher for more than a decade. This professional experience forms the basis of his most prominent non-fiction work to date: Incompetències bàsiques: Crònica d’un desgavell educatiu (2024). Drawing on direct classroom observations, the book offers a critical analysis of contemporary educational policies in Catalonia and Spain. Bardera argues that the shift toward competency-based models has undermined academic rigour, marginalised rational inquiry as a core educational objective. He advocates for a restoration of intellectual demands, cultural depth, and genuine effort in schooling.
Through his writings and public interventions, Bardera emerges as a significant critical voice in debates on educational reform and cultural decline, combining philosophical training with frontline pedagogical insight.
How to attend
This event is open to all, and free to attend. Spaces can be reserved for free via Eventbrite.
