11/03/2026
The CRAI commemorates the centenary of Marta Mata’s birth with an exhibition on her educational legacy
A guide to the bibliographic collection of the Curtó Library of the Marta Mata Garriga Foundation has been prepared, which forms part of the URV catalogue
A guide to the bibliographic collection of the Curtó Library of the Marta Mata Garriga Foundation has been prepared, which forms part of the URV catalogue
The Resource Centre for Learning and Research (CRAI) of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili has inaugurated an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the birth of Marta Mata Garriga (1926–2006), a leading figure in educational renewal and in the defence of a public, democratic and Catalan school system. The exhibition, which aims to reinterpret her educational thought with a view to the present and the future, opened this February at the CRAI on the Sescelades campus and can also be visited at the CRAI on the Terres de l’Ebre campus and the CRAI Baix Penedès site, institutions linked to the studies of Early Childhood and Primary Education.
The opening event, held on 20 February at 11 a.m. on floor 0 of the Sescelades campus CRAI (see the recording), featured an address by Carmen Jiménez, from the Marta Mata Garriga Foundation, who offered an emotional presentation of the educator’s career. Jiménez highlighted not only Marta Mata’s professional commitment to pedagogical renewal, but also her human dimension, sharing experiences and anecdotes that illustrate her personality and her passion for education.
The exhibition traces the life and work of Marta Mata, from her beginnings as a teacher to her role as a driving force behind pedagogical projects and teacher training initiatives. Born in Barcelona and co-founder of the Rosa Sensat Teachers’ Association in 1965, Marta Mata was a central figure in transforming the country’s educational landscape, promoting active teacher training and defending an inclusive, high-quality public school system. She also combined her pedagogical work with intense political activity, serving as a member of parliament, senator and city councillor, always with a strong commitment to education as a tool for social justice and collective progress.
In addition, the CRAI has prepared a specific guide to the collection of the Curtó Library of the Marta Mata Garriga Foundation, which facilitates access to documents and bibliographic materials related to her thought and career. The collection includes, among other resources, the personal pedagogical library that Marta Mata built throughout her life. It is a documentary set of great interest for research and training, especially for students, teachers and researchers seeking to explore 20th-century pedagogical renewal and the role of public schooling as a tool for social cohesion.
The exhibition can be visited at the CRAI on the Sescelades campus (2–28 February), at the CRAI on the Terres de l’Ebre campus (3–17 March) and at the CRAI Baix Penedès site (25 March–15 April).
