The Institut Ramon Llull is the public institution responsible for promoting Catalan language and culture internationally. The Institut represents a cultural and linguistic community of more than 10 million people who participate actively in global events and conversations through performing arts, literature and knowledge exchange. The Institut is a consortium formed by the Government of Catalonia, the Government of the Balearic Islands, Barcelona City Council and Palma City Council. It carries out its programming in the following areas: Language and Universities, Literature, Performing and Visual Arts, and the Programme for Innovation, Knowledge and Residencies.

The Institut Ramon Llull aims to put Catalan culture in dialogue with the world in all areas of creation and knowledge, constructing networks for mutual understanding, recognition and collaboration. The Institut collaborates with and supports artists, organisations, institutions and festivals while fostering exchange in the fields of Catalan studies, literature and translation, performing and visual arts, film, music, design and architecture.

Headquartered in Barcelona, the Institut Ramon Llull also has offices in Berlin, London, New York and Paris.

Palau Baró de Quadras

The Language and Universities department promotes the teaching of Catalan at universities and higher education institutions through a university network, the XarxaLlull, which includes around 130 world universities and more than 7,000 enrolled students. Likewise, the department supports research centred on Catalan language and culture with a programme for academic chairs and visiting professorships at internationally prestigious universities. Beyond university-level agreements, the Institut Ramon Llull supports faculty and students in the area of Catalan studies with various linguistic training and cultural opportunities. As the official body tasked with certifying competence in Catalan outside of Catalan-speaking areas, the Institut organises annual Catalan language exams in more than 70 cities across 30 countries. The department additionally provides support for the academic and research work of international Catalan studies associations.

The Institut Ramon Llull encourages the internationalisation of Catalan literature by awarding grants to publishing houses that publish works originally written in Catalan and translated to other languages including fiction, nonfiction and illustrated books. The Literature department supports the relationship between authors, the various agents involved in the publishing sector, and the international public by participating in major book fairs and literary festivals around the world, while also facilitating spaces for dialogue and exchange between authors and translators. The Literature department additionally works for the international promotion of classic Catalan literary heritage.

The Performing and Visual Arts department promotes and spearheads the participation of Catalan and Balearic artists and creators in first-order international events and festivals, as well as strategic networks and venues in the areas of performing arts, visual arts, film, music, design and architecture. The department drives this activity through agreements for collaboration and exchange between the local and international artistic sectors, as well as various grant programmes for creators. Furthermore, the Performing and Visual Arts department designs support programmes for artists with a recognised international presence, contributes to the internationalisation of Catalan and Balearic venues and promotes visits by foreign curators, critics and programmers to festivals, exhibits, premieres, concerts and conferences in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

In 2022 the Institut Ramon Llull created a new program with the objective of developing and strengthening a network of residencies throughout Catalan-speaking areas that will connect global professional talent through research and culture and advance cultural exchange and dialogue on a worldwide level.

The Institut Ramon Llull has four delegations abroad: Berlin, London, New York and Paris. The delegates coordinate, execute and monitor the Institut’s projects in their respective geographic areas. They detect new opportunities for collaboration and design strategies to reinforce the Institut’s presence in each of their zones of activity. Additionally, they represent the Institut in international professional and cultural networks, act as a point of information and guidance for Catalan creators who live and work abroad, and promote the Catalan cultural events taking place in their offices’ territories.

The Institut Ramon Llull is an ex-officio trustee of the Ramon Llull Foundation, established by the Government of Andorra and the Institut Ramon Llull on 31 March 2008. On 15 January 2009 the Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Orientales, the city of L’Alguer and the Ramon Llull Network of Valencian Cities joined the Foundation. The Foundation works to advance the study, promotion and defence of the Catalan language, as well as to expand the international reach of the language and the cultural expressions that use it.

In light of its role as a social agent and public service, the Institut has made relevant information about its activity and operations available to the public through a transparency portal.