Josep Espar i Ticó facts for kids

Josep Espar i Ticó (born in Barcelona on December 22, 1927 – died in Barcelona on August 20, 2022) was a Catalan businessman, politician, and cultural activist. He worked hard to protect and promote Catalan culture and language, especially during a time when it was difficult to do so.

Who Was Josep Espar i Ticó?

Josep Espar i Ticó was an important figure in Catalonia. He was known for his efforts to keep Catalan culture alive. He did this through his businesses, political actions, and by supporting cultural groups. He believed strongly in the importance of the Catalan language and traditions.

Early Life and Activism

Josep Espar i Ticó studied Law and graduated from the University of Barcelona in 1950. In 1954, he joined a group called CC. This group was made up of Catholic people who supported Catalan culture after the Spanish Civil War.

He played a key role in the Events of the Palau de la Música on May 19, 1960. During a tribute to a poet named Joan Maragall, people in the audience started singing the Cant de la senyera. This song became a symbol of Catalonia. It was sung because the official Catalan anthem, Els segadors, was banned by the Francoist dictatorship. This was a brave act of cultural protest.

Promoting Catalan Culture

Josep Espar i Ticó helped create many important cultural projects. In 1961, he was one of the people who started Edigsa. This was a record label that helped promote Nova Cançó, a new style of Catalan music.

A year later, in 1962, he helped open the Ona bookstore. This bookstore focused on selling books written in Catalan. He also took part in a campaign called "We want Catalan bishops." This campaign aimed to have religious leaders who understood and supported Catalan culture.

From 1975 to 1977, he managed the Congress of Catalan Culture. This was a big event that brought together many people to discuss and celebrate Catalan culture. He was also a member of its board.

Political Involvement

Josep Espar i Ticó was also active in politics. In 1974, he helped start a political party called Democratic Convergence of Catalonia. He later ran for the Senate of Spain in the 1979 elections. He was part of the Convergence and Union group, but he was not elected.

He continued to support Catalan media. In 1976, he helped create the newspaper Avui. This was the first newspaper published in Catalan after the Spanish Civil War. He also helped start the children's magazine Cavall Fort and the publishing house L'Arc de Berà.

In 1984, he received the Creu de Sant Jordi Award. This is a very important award given by the Generalitat de Catalunya, which is the government of Catalonia. From 1984 to 1986, he was the general secretary for the Second International Congress of the Catalan Language.

Later Years and Legacy

Even in his later years, Josep Espar i Ticó continued his activism. In 2007, he joined the Collective for a good TGV route. This group worked to make sure that the high-speed train route in Barcelona would not damage the famous Sagrada Família temple.

One of his last big projects was pushing for the Third Catalanist Congress in 2008-2009. He believed this congress was very important for the future of Catalonia. In 2020, the Catalan Summer University honored him with the Canigó Award.

Josep Espar i Ticó passed away in Barcelona on August 20, 2022, at the age of 94. The Fundació Congrés de Cultura Catalana reported his death. He had been a lifelong supporter of this organization. He led many efforts to help Catalonia's political and cultural life return to normal after difficult times.

See also

In Spanish: Josep Espar para niños

• Francoist Catalonia