Andorra's 2025 Culture: Censorship Clash and Artistic Milestones

In 2025, Escaldes-Engordany's local council drew widespread criticism for blocking an art exhibition over security concerns, marking a rare instance of official censorship in Andorra. The incident occurred during the opening of *La censura és la comissària*, funded by Barcelona's Museum of Banned Art. Consul Rosa Gili demanded the removal of a *Charlie Hebdo* cover featuring a caricature of Muhammad and the slogan "Tout est pardonné. Je suis Charlie," published after the 2015 Paris attacks. Citing national security amid heightened terror alerts in Spain and France, she insisted on its withdrawal or the entire show would be cancelled. The head of government later refuted any such threat, but the exhibition was scrapped. The council still paid the budgeted €35,000, intended as a highlight of the 20th anniversary of the CAEE cultural centre.

The year also brought a milestone in historical remembrance with the installation of Andorra's first eight Stolpersteine—stumbling stones honouring Holocaust victims. Placed in early May by the Velles Cases initiative, they commemorate deported Andorrans: Bonaventura Bonfill (Meritxell), Josep Franch (Canillo), Pere Mandicó, Josep Calvó, and Anton Vidal (all Prats), Càndid Rossell and Salvador Montanya (Andorra la Vella), and Bonaventura Casal (Margineda). Five more—Francesc Mora, Anton Pons, Miquel Adellach, Antoni Puigdellívol, and Pedro Inglés—await plaques pending family approval.

Cultural highlights included celebrations for 95-year-old writer Sergi Mas, featuring public readings, a donated wooden relief *Cuina de Casa de la Vall* for the new cultural centre, a Corten steel sculpture group *La porta de la parròquia* at Fontaneda roundabout, and his forthcoming book *Tafetans de justícia*. Fans also urged publication of his unpublished memoirs.

Film saw Jorge Cebrián's documentary *L'estafador que va ser rei d'Andorra*, profiling conman Boris Skossyreff, which ran six weeks at Illa Carlemany cinema before screenings in Spain and a Filmin debut—Andorra's first fully local production there. His companion book sold out three printings in two months. Elisabet Terri began shooting *Els de Sau*, a biopic on the Catalan band tracing their path to singer Carles Sabater's death in 1999, styled like *Bohemian Rhapsody* and slated for autumn release.

Patrimony efforts restored Meritxell sanctuary's iron cross replica and replica bells from the old bell tower after a fire. Legal challenges persist, however, as three owners contest protective zoning around Casa de la Vall and Sant Esteve church, claiming it unconstitutionally curtails property rights two decades late.

Other notes: Alan Ward identified General Johannes Blaskowitz in wartime photos analysed in the Trobades Culturals Pirinenques; Francesc Badia's posthumous dictionary documents 3,000 victims of 1936 religious persecution in Catalonia, including two Andorran priests. Exhibitions like *Pioners* showcased early photographers, soprano Anna Netrebko debuted at ClàssicAnd, and the revived Jazz Festival hosted Marcus Miller, Michel Camilo, and Tomatito.