Barcelona Cultura

Covid-19 and the Casteller groups


HOW COVID-19 AFFECTED CASTELLER GROUPS IN BARCELONA

In January and February 2021, the Centre de Prospectiva i Anàlisi dels Castells (CEPAC) produced a survey –with the support of the Institute of Culture– to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on Barcelona’s casteller (human tower) groups. 952 group members from the city’s eight groups (44.4% men and 54.6% women) responded. Here is a sample of the responses received (you can view them in detail in this document).

Assessment of the 2020 season

  • Most people (68%) missed the social relations inside their group as much as the human towers.
  • Over half of them felt connected to the group and the world of human towers and the vast majority took part or helped in the group’s activities, either in person or virtually.
  • Seven out of ten positively valued the efforts of their group to keep the organisation alive in spite of the situation.
  • Nearly three quarters of the people surveyed believe that the Covid-19 crisis will have a serious negative effect on their group.

Prospects for the 2021 season

  • 69% discounted the possibility of getting back to human towers during the 2021 season.
  • In general, they are really keen on getting back to casteller activities, but 84% think that people’s health is the most important thing and prefer not to put people’s health at risk.
  • A coordinated and simultaneous return to activity for the whole casteller community is positively valued.
  • 57% reject the idea that rehearsals in smaller groups in enclosed spaces will continue for a long time.

Returning to the activity

  • 60% of the people surveyed recognise that they are concerned about returning to rehearsals.
  • Approximately 70% believe that people taking part in rehearsals should be vaccinated or undergo a prior diagnostic test.
  • However, 60% of them are not prepared to assume the cost of those tests.
  • Nine out of ten people intend to return to their group when things get back to normal, and of these, half intend to do so with the same degree of commitment as before.